Injured again. sigh.

He’s ruptured the achilles tendon in his ankle and will be out for the early part of the season, probably until December. We might be seeing more of Jason Tovey than we first thought, although Paul Turner is confident Martyn Thomas will cover adequately.

in the “good news” pile, however, Dan Lydiate is ready to resume contact training, according to the Argus. Go, Dan!

Heh. In that article he says the worst thing was “watching the Dragons on a Friday night.” i think we might know how he feels, a little bit.

So let’s take a look at who is coming, then. Having got shot of all our fly halves, the good news is that we’ve signed James Arlidge. Arlidge is a New Zealander, but is first choice playmaker for the Japanese national side. Apparently he’s a technical outside half in the Warlow mould, rather than a physical type, which should suit us down to the ground. (I reckon that gives me an excuse for another Warlow picture…). We’ve also signed Shaun Connor from the Ospreys, who is another experienced player who, importantly, kicks his bloody goals. A bit like Craig, really. Shaun is getting on a bit and used to play for Newport, back when the strip was alternating bear and beaver skins. With Jason Tovey, the talented U20 fly-half/fullback who made his début in the Leinster match this season, that gives us three options at outside half, all of whom are an improvement on last seasons pair.
We’ve signed two New Zealand back row forwards as well. Grant Webb joins us from Ulster, and Hoani MacDonald is coming from super 14 unit Highlanders. Webb has a big reputation to live up to, and it was surprising to see so little of him in the half a season he played for Ulster, making only four first team appearances. It doesn’t look like he was injured, so let’s hope it was just the relative strength of the Ulster back row that limited his opportunities. MacDonald is less of a dark horse; he can play both lock and back row, and has played for the Junior All Blacks in 2006, and New Zealand Maori in the current season, which sounds like just what we need.
There are two new hookers coming. Tom Willis is joining us from the Chiefs, another Kiwi Super 14 side, where he has been an influential leader, or something. He’s rumoured to be a front runner for captain in the new season. He was an All Black hooker in 2002, but had his international career cut short by injury. Duane Goodfield is joining us from Cardiff Blues. He was a tip for the top a few years ago, but has also struggled with injuries. Can you see pattern forming?
The last of the “known” players joining us is utility back Tal Selley. Tal is pretty quick, and “experienced” in the Magners League. He is particularly excited about joining the Drags as he now gets to complete his set of Welsh Regional kits, having previously played for the Scarlets, the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues.
We also have a clutch of new academy and development players looking to make the step up. Jason Tovey will be familiar to anyone who watched the Leinster match in May, or the U20 world cup. Pacey and sharp, he’s occasionally let down by his eagerness, and his enthusiastic endorsement of Brew Brothers Patent Hand Butter. The Lewis brothers are currently at Ebbw Vale but will be showing their faces this coming season. Robert has already been in the squad as scrum half cover, and James joins as a centre. Lloyd Burns is a young hooker who converted from back row, and Alex Jones and Adam Brown are both young locks who should be appearing shortly.
There is a pretty strong rumour surrounding Marc Stcherbina signing to us from the Cardiff Blues as well, which will be a good thing. Great as our young centres are, they lack real punch. Stitch will give us this in spades.

You’ll all have noticed the glaring omission from these lists. Where is turbocharvis? I dunno. When i do, i’ll tell you. You’ll probably already know, mind. The rumours are that he will be signing up for a season as player coach, specialising in defence, but we’ve been down this road before with the man/god, so say nothing or you’ll jinx it.

So who’s in, and who’s gone?
Let’s start with the stuff we know – who has gone. We’ve said goodbye this season to a couple of our most capped internationals, Ceri Sweeney and Michael Owen. Now I reckon most of you will not be too sad to see the back of Ceri; he said some unfortunate things in the Argus when he started that we never really forgave him for. That forgiveness might have been a little more forthcoming had he ever really sparked for us the way he has occasionally promised to do with Wales. As it was we saw glimpses of the player he could be, but all too often he’d immediately follow up with a howler. He also seemed better suited inside the mighty Craig Warlow the season before last; he’s looked distinctly uncomfortable in the role of playmaker. He’s off to the buggers in blue next door, so good luck to him.
Michael Owen leaving is perhaps more of a loss – since Fozzie left he’s perhaps not had the time and space to really show what he can do, but when our flankers have been working well he’s had some epic games for us. Hopefully he’ll be given the armchair ride he needs at Sarries next season, and maybe even get a few more Wales caps. Good luck Mikey, your grubber kicks will be missed.
Aled Thomas has gone to London Welsh, who have turned fully professional for next season. He seemed to struggle as a fly half at our level, but was comfortable enough when playing for Newport RFC, so hopefully he’ll enjoy his rugby next season. I’ll keep an eye out for news of him.
Ben Daly and Nic Fitisemanu have both gone, and I for one will miss them both. They never seemed to give less than 100 per cent on the pitch, even if sometimes it wasn’t enough, and the sight of Daly showing Matthew Tait a clean pair of heels in the Newcastle EDF match this season still has me chuckling. Fitsy was a real crowd pleaser as well, who had his two years here blighted by injury. I’ve no idea where they are going, but when I find out I will post it up here.
Kieran Crawford has left to join Cardiff RFC. He was a real prospect a few seasons ago, captaining the national U21 side but has also had a hard time with injuries, and failed to displace Ben Daly as second choice hooker, so has had little game time. Hopefully he’ll find his form in the Prem.
Peter Sidoli has jumped ship to join Italian super 10 side Calvisano, where he’ll be playing with a good chunk of the Italian national side. It’s something he’s always wanted to do, apparently. Given his lack of Welsh caps and Italian father it’s all too possible that we’ll see him playing for the Azzurri at some point over the next three or four years.
Richard Wilkes has been released as well – don’t know if Ebbw Vale will keep him on. He’s not played for us this season gone, but hasn’t been bad up there, apparently.
Finally, the shock news is that we’ve lost Paul Emerick to bottom end French team Beziers. Paul still had a season on his contract, but wanted a change, apparently. Why on earth he’d want to play his rugby in an historic medieval city in the south of France, minutes from the Mediterranean god only knows. We’ll miss his mazy running and full tilt tackling style. Maybe we won’t miss the chants of “USA USA” that greeted him every time he ran on to the pitch. Good luck Paul.
I think that’s it. There’s a few names not on the team sheet that may come as a bit of a surprise, like Jimmy “Chuck” Norris, and I was sort of expecting to see Ashley Sweet’s name appear this season as well, but there’s plenty of time. I’ll do the joiners in the next article, plus a handy cut out ‘n’ keep guide to who’s replacing who.

According to Aunty Beeb (and she knows Sir Colin quite well), our beloved Mr Charvis is in negotiations regarding a new contract – a dual role contract – namely playing and some coaching/backroom capacity.

He’s apparently already been involved in the pre-season training, and is considering an offer.

I for one will be a very, very happy bunny if this happens. Go on Col, just do it (Go on Paul, kidnapp his nearest and dearest til he signs… ;O) )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ng_dragons/7473871.stm

Sorry, a day late, but the Dragons HEC group has been confirmed as Dragons, Glasgow, Bath and… Toulouse!!!

It looks like we’ve probably got the hardest group of any of the Welsh regions, but, hey, we’ve got a nice trip to Toulouse ahead of us! Details of the dates and fixtures will probably be released in about a months time, so get ready with your easyjet/BMI Baby/Ryanair bookings!

The full draw is:

Pool1
Munster
Sale
Clermont
Mountuban

Pool2
Wasps
Leinster
Castres
Edinburgh

Pool3
Leicester
Perp
Ospreyslians
Treviso

Pool4
Stade Francais
Sgarlets
Ulster
HairyQueens

Pool5
Tolouse
Bath
Dragons
Glasgee

Pool6
Biaritz
Glawsterrrr
Cardiff Blues

Or, in other news, NZ Maori Backrower/Lock Hoani MacDonald has confirmed he’s signed a 2 year deal to join the Dragons, following 3 other fellow Kiwi’s in Hooker Tom Willis, Outide half James Arlidge and No 8. Grant Webb.

And so the search for Ronald’s new nickname commences.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ng_dragons/7461181.stm

I have received a message via dragged up which accuses several members of the forum of commiting a heinous crime. The allegations of cruelty to a leather sofa are shocking ,posters of a nervous disposition should read no further.

After witnessing photgraphic evidence whilst browsing dragged up the Land of Leather spokesperson commented thus……..

“This sort of abuse to our innocent sofa is very upsetting to see, and to think that we are supposed to be a nation of sofa lovers , it beggars belief. Images like the one posted on dragged up where the sofa is clearly being openly abused and neglected is nothing short of sickening.”

To view the image in all it’s gory (sic) view the “ pity the sofa” thread in the Stuff section of dragged up.

Right, last match of the season, nice sunny Friday evening, LET’S BE HAVING YOU!

It might be Charv’s last match, as he is still keeping us in suspense about his possible retirement. It is certainly Mad Frankie’s (that’s Ben Daly to you, dad) last game, which is a shame; we’ll miss his mad runs and all round aggression here at Dragged Up. Jim McCreedy is retiring after the match and if the rumours are true we might be losing another supporters’ favourite after tomorrow, so i urge everyone to get down and make it a game to remember for us all.

Nice to see Jason Tovey getting another run out at 10, and with a bit of luck Ceri Sweeney will get some time and go out with a bang an all.

Patsy Palmer is taking time off from her busy Eastenders schedule to make a first start at tighthead. There is a rumour we might be loaning her next season from the Blues academy, which will give us four tightheads on the books to break. excellent.

To make sure it’ll be a big night Brian O’Driscoll is making a first appearance at Rodney Parade for some time (if ever, in fact), and i’m sure everyone will remember Shane Horgan’s striptease before punching Ceri Sweeney last season, so i hope we’ll give them both a warm Rodney Parade welcome.

DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGONS!

Just a quicky on tonights game. The two teams are

Dragons Replacements from:
Steve Jones
Gethin Robinson
Hugh Gustafson
Andy Hall Lewis Evans
James Harris
Paul Emerick
Jason Tovey
Alex Walker

O’s replacements

16 Ed Shervington
17 Craig Mitchell
18 Mike Powell
19 Filo Tiatia
20 Martin Roberts
21 Ashley Beck
22 Kristian Phillips

Bearman is injured. The internationals are on a pre-summer tour training camp, leaving the Ospreys to field a somewhat weakened/youth team. Maybe we should let Conner know that the Dragons result tonight may have an influence on what competition he’s playing in next year…

Report on the BBC website are confirming that Bristol have signed up to play the next 2 seasons at Rodney Parade whilst the redevelopment work is undertaken at the Memorial Ground.

The Bristol games will probably be played on a Sunday, whilst the usual fixtures for the Dragons, and, of course, Newport RFC, will continue. Hopefully there will be some news (season ticket?) for those of us who might fancy watching some Guinness Premiereship games as well as our own ML games. Moreover, hopefully the increased number of games will give the coffers a fair old boost, and, who knows, some of it may find it’s way into giving the Dragons a bit of a boost too.

But firstly, let us extend a warm welcome to our Wurzel brethren. We hope you will find the atmosphere generated at Rodney Parade to your liking. A proper rugby ground, as you like it!

Dai, get that pastie factory up and running before next season kicks off!