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15 for 10: Dragons - an all-decade XV
By Rhiannon Garth Jones
15 for 10 Dragons: To say it has been a difficult decade for the Dragons would be quite the understatement. Despite some thrilling young talent emerging, they have consistently been the worst region in Wales and too often fans have seen their best players leave for more successful sides or tormented by injury problems.
There have been a few false starts in recent years in the effort to improve the region’s fortunes but it does seem like Dean Ryan’s side might be ushering in a more promising decade. In the meantime, RugbyPass has put together a team of the decade, which features quite a few big names.
Encouragingly, most of them started young enough to take Dragons into the next decade with more hope.
15. Hallam Amos
Intelligent on the field as well as off, the trainee neurosurgeon is a versatile player with a lovely, balanced running style and a useful left foot. Injuries were a problem but, having broken through to the first team at 17 years and 28 days (then the youngest debut in Welsh regional rugby), he had plenty of time to make his mark.
14. Ashton Hewitt
One of many examples of the young talent Dragons have produced in the last decade, Hewitt made his debut in 2013 and, despite injury issues, has shown pace to burn and a handy nose for the try line. Dragons fans will hope he truly fulfils his potential.
13. Tyler Morgan
Yet another talented youngster with injury issues, Morgan’s lovely running game has lit up Rodney Parade often enough since his debut in 2013. Plenty of Wales fans will be hoping he can do the same for the national side going forward.
12. Jack Dixon
Dixon broke the record for the youngest player to play Welsh regional rugby (held by Hallam Amos who set the record earlier in the same match). More than 100 appearances and counting for the exciting centre who is still only 25.
11. Aled Brew
Tom Prydie scored 447 points in his five years at Rodney Parade but Brew remains the region's highest try-scorer, topping the chart with 43. His departure was something of a surprise to fans at the time and the former sevens and fifteens international has proved a very useful acquisition for Bath.
10. Jason Tovey
It says something that Sam Davies, who has been with the Dragons for six months, has a decent claim to this jersey but Tovey is the region's record points scorer. He arguably didn't reach the heights his talent promised but he was regularly one of the best performers during his two stints for Dragons this decade.
9. Rhodri Williams
Richie Rees put in a memorable two-year stint and Jonathan Evans was always a reliable player but Williams’ dancing feet and instinctive play have livened up this Dragons side since his arrival from Bristol, especially since Davies joined him in the half-backs.
1. Brok Harris
His experience and grunt have been sorely needed in a team so heavily reliant on youngsters and he has delivered his end of the bargain. His ability to cover both sides of the scrum is especially handy.
2. Elliott Dee
You’ve got to be some player to supplant a modern Welsh legend in a team of the decade but Dee, who has become a talisman for Dragons in his 100+ appearances since 2013, earns his spot. At only 25, he has a bright future ahead of him.
3. Leon Brown
Brown may only have 40 regional appearances to his name but his potential has been apparent every time and he has come on in proverbial leaps and bounds this season. Former Welsh international prop and current team-mate Aaron Jarvis thinks he could be one of the best tight-heads in the world in the future. How Dragons fans would welcome that.
4. Luke Charteris
Left the region early on at a time when the glitz and money of France was luring many a Welsh player overseas but was so good in his time that the former captain can’t be ignored. Another lock of his calibre would be extremely welcome in the Dragons squad these days.
5. Cory Hill (c)
Hill is one of the few talented youngsters in this side who didn’t come through the Dragons academy, instead having been released by Cardiff Blues. A hugely talented player who works his socks off while having the softer skill-set that is becoming increasingly essential for modern locks. Surely a future Wales captain, he gets to captain this side too.
6. Dan Lydiate
One thing that has been consistently excellent for the Dragons this decade has been their back row options. Lydiate played some of his best rugby during his time at the Dragons but there are plenty of rivals who might feel disappointed at being overlooked, not least Andrew Coombs, Ollie Griffiths, Harrison Keddie, and Aaron Wainwright.
7. Nic Cudd
In a nation of outstanding openside flankers, Cudd rarely gets a mention. Likewise, he has had arguably more noticeable regional colleagues in his position. But the dynamic flanker has given his all for the region since his arrival in 2012 and, at his best, there are few better jackallers in the league. His work with the Academy going forward will surely only strengthen the talent pipeline.
8. Taulupe Faletau
Surely the best player the region has ever had? He showed his class week in, week out for the Dragons before leaving, as so many of his teammates did, for Bath. The type of player who could probably cover any position on the pitch – and in style. Ross Moriarty was an exciting signing but his performances haven’t compared with the shifts Faletau put in.
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Latest Comments
Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.
They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).
That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).
Go to commentsThe only benefit of the draft idea is league competitiveness. There would be absolutely no commercial value in a draft with rugby’s current interest levels.
I wonder what came first in america? I’m assuming it’s commercial aspect just built overtime and was a side effect essentially.
But the idea is not without merit as a goal. The first step towards being able to implement a draft being be creating it’s source of draftees. Where would you have the players come from? NFL uses college, and players of an age around 22 are generally able to step straight into the NFL. Baseball uses School and kids (obviously nowhere near pro level being 3/4 years younger) are sent to minor league clubs for a few years, the equivalent of the Super Rugby academies. I don’t think the latter is possible legally, and probably the most unethical and pointless, so do we create a University scene that builds on and up from the School scene? There is a lot of merit in that and it would tie in much better with our future partners in Japan and America.
Can we used the club scene and dispose of the Super Rugby academies? The benefit of this is that players have no association to their Super side, ie theyre not being drafted elshwere after spending time as a Blues or Chiefs player etc, it removes the negative of investing in a player just to benefit another club. The disadvantage of course is that now the players have nowhere near the quality of coaching and each countries U20s results will suffer (supposedly).
Or are we just doing something really dirty and making a rule that the only players under the age of 22 (that can sign a pro contract..) that a Super side can contract are those that come from the draft? Any player wanting to upgrade from an academy to full contract has to opt into the draft?
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