Gwent Dragons Ready To Roar

Mike Ruddock, the new head coach to the Gwent Dragons regional side, has welcomed the announcement of the name of his new team.
“As far as the players and coaching staff are concerned, this is the final piece in a very intricate jigsaw that has seen us create a highly competitive and professional playing structure in the Gwent region,” said Ruddock.
“Our squad is due to report for training next week and they will be delighted that the final hurdle has been overcome in creating a new identity for our regional side. We believe we can develop a side that
will give the rugby public of Gwent something to be proud of and the new name should be attractive to fans both young and old.
“Everything is in place for us to prepare the side for a major onslaught in the Heineken Cup, Celtic League and Celtic Cup competitions and all the players are full of enthusiasm for the new venture.
“We have all the right infra-structure in place to turn the Gwent Dragons into a successful side representing one of the greatest rugby playing regions of not only Wales, but Europe.”
The Welsh Rugby Union, responding to a request from the new board of directors formed to run the Ebbw Vale and Newport Region, decided on Thursday night that the team should be called the Gwent Dragons. That decision having been made, it is now down to the board of directors to implement the new name and identity.
“We asked the WRU to help us with our decision making process and they have now done that. The Dragons name will be formally announced to the players when they gather next week and we intend to have a full launch of our Team, colours and name early in July,” said the Gwent Dragons chief executive, David Jenkins.
“As a region, we have not been sitting idly by while the debate over the name was continuing. We have put together a robust business plan for the team, been active in the sponsorship and corporate markets and will be ready very shortly to launch our season ticket campaign.
“A meeting with all clubs in the Gwent region, highlighting the benefits of working together in
partnership was well received, and I can now follow this up as a matter of urgency.
“Mike Ruddock and his coaching and management team have already got through a huge amount of work in preparing for the new season and now we have a complete identity we can continue preparing confidently for our pre-season friendlies in August and our Celtic League kick-off on the weekend of 5/6/7 September.”