A genuinely 'Possible Dragons XV' to breathe fire in the Pro14 next season
There’s something brewing in Newport.
Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman is building a team ahead of the 2018/19 season that could potentially rival the best in the Pro14. That squad was bolstered today with news that Wales hooker Richard Hibbard will also join at the end of the current season from Gloucester.
The Dragons recruitment drive, buoyed by new financial clout care of the WRU and private investment, means they can now for the first time in a long time, talk about competing at the top end of the table and not the bottom.
With that in mind, here’s a look at a theoretical XV that the Dragons could field next season. Yes, some big names would have to sign and some contracts would have to be bought out, but it makes for an impressive side.
15 Jordan Williams
It isn’t hard to see why the Dragons were so eager to sign highly-rated Williams, who could face a battle with Springbok veteran Zane Kirchner.
14 Hallam Amos
The winger who’s studying medicine in Cardiff was Wales first choice winger during the November Tests and showed his surgical skills on the wing, scoring tries against Australia and Georgia.
13 George North
Increasingly used by Saints as an option at centre, if the Welsh superstar were lured to the region and he could potentially form a sizeable midfield partnership with Jack Dixon on his inside.
12 Jack Dixon
Maybe not quite a household name just yet, in 2011 the 6’2, 105kg Dixon became the youngest player to ever play professionally for the Dragons at the age of just 16 years and 313 days. The Dragons also boast a number of other centre options including former Northampton Saints centre Pat Howard (an SA project player) and Carmarthen born Adam Warren.
11 Ashton Hewitt
Maybe the standout back this season, the 23-year-old Hewitt brings a lethal mix of footwork, pace and power.
10 Gavin Henson
Set to agree terms on another year at the region, veteran pivot Henson has proved invaluable for the Dragons and is departing knowledge to up and coming flyhalf Angus O’Brien. Some hold out hope that may even one day play for Wales again.
9 Rhodri Williams
Having signed from Bristol, the livewire scrumhalf will have had two high scoring seasons at Bristol under his belt before returning to Wales where he will hope to add to his three Welsh caps.
8 Toby Faletau
If the Dragons can buy the British and Irish Lion Number 8 out of his two year contract at Bath, he would represent probably the biggest signing in the club’s history. Hard to quantify just how big a coup his return to Rodney Parade would be.
7 Oliver Griffiths
The former Welsh U20s captain, Griffiths has already captained the region and is being talked about in glowing terms. Dragons could just as easily deploy the hugely efficient and effective James Benjamin in his place, as he has just signed a three year deal.
6 Ross Moriarty
A huge statement of intent was made when the Jackman secured the signing of the former British and Irish Lions bruiser. Will provide much of the hard nose Jackman is so desperate to imbue his pack with.
5 Cory Hill
Capped eight times for Wales, Hill made his international debut last year and was vice-captain of this year’s summer tour before the Lions came calling in July.
4 Luke Charteris
Another player that could potentially be bought out of his Bath contract, the 6’9, 125kg giant is one of the best lineout locks in Europe and would add size, experience and huge rugby IQ to the team. Has an able apprentice in 6’6, 116kg Matthew Screech.
3 Leon Brown
The 6’3, 126kg Brown made his debut for Wales this November and is fast becoming the cornerstone of Jackman’s pack. Will however have to fight it out with the sizeable Lloyd Fairbrother and Sam Hobbs on the tighthead side.
2 Richard Hibbard
Will have a battle on his hands with young Welsh hooker Elliot Dee, Hibbard brings a shock of blonde hair and masses of ball carrying endevour and road miles to boot.
1 Ryan Bevington
The former Opsreys loosehead joins from Bristol and will be hopeful of adding to his 15 Welsh caps. Will have to contend with Brok Harris and several other young props looking to make their name at the region.
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
57 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
57 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
57 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
57 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
57 Go to comments