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Owners backed to fight for Dragons in WRU shake-up
Owners backed to fight for Dragons in WRU shake-up

Yahoo

time8 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Owners backed to fight for Dragons in WRU shake-up

Coach Dale Macleod trusts the Dragons' owners to "fight our fight" as the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) considers cutting at least one of the nation's professional teams. The governing body has entered a formal consultation period for the professional game that could see the the top tier of the domestic game reduced from four to three or two. Dragons, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets are preparing for the start of the United Rugby Championship at the end of September and a final decision is expected from the WRU the following month. "You can only control what you can control, my job is to come here and coach, for the players it's to come here and play," said defence chief Macleod, who has arrived from New Zealand to work under head coach Filo Tiatia. Tierney has 'fire' to help Welsh rugby transform 'Big decisions needed for radical future' - WRU's Reddin WRU considers cutting up to two regional teams "We are really focused on that and the rest will take care of itself, there's not much that I can do or say." Dragons were owned by the WRU between 2017 and 2023 before they were taken over by David Buttress, David Wright and Hoyoung Huh. "Their job is to go and deal with it, they will fight our fight," said Macleod, who was speaking at a training session at Caerphilly RFC as the Dragons tour the region. "It's probably just a bit of a shake-up, but we will live to fight another day. I am trusted to coach the team and I will trust them to fight our battle. "I keep saying it to the players 'know your role, do your role'. There is no use getting stressed about something that I can't control, and I am just loving being here." 'White noise' Tight-head prop Dillon Lewis has returned to Wales after two seasons with Harlequins. The former Cardiff front-rower was a member of the national side that faced England in the 2023 Six Nations after the threat of strike action. Now Lewis, 29, is experiencing another period of uncertainty for the professional game in Wales. "If I am honest, it's white noise now," said the 57-times capped forward. "We are here to concentrate on rugby and it's definitely not our job to dictate what happens with the regions and regional game. "All we can do is put our best foot forward on the pitch, try to get results and play well. Then, from the powers above, whatever will be, will be. "That is definitely not something for us to concentrate on right now, and there are a lot of exciting things happening here at the Dragons so we've just got to concentrate on the rugby."

Owners backed to fight for Dragons in WRU shake-up
Owners backed to fight for Dragons in WRU shake-up

BBC News

time9 hours ago

  • Sport
  • BBC News

Owners backed to fight for Dragons in WRU shake-up

Coach Dale Macleod trusts the Dragons' owners to "fight our fight" as the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) considers cutting at least one of the nation's professional governing body has entered a formal consultation period for the professional game that could see the the top tier of the domestic game reduced from four to three or Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets are preparing for the start of the United Rugby Championship at the end of September and a final decision is expected from the WRU the following month."You can only control what you can control, my job is to come here and coach, for the players it's to come here and play," said defence chief Macleod, who has arrived from New Zealand to work under head coach Filo Tiatia. "We are really focused on that and the rest will take care of itself, there's not much that I can do or say."Dragons were owned by the WRU between 2017 and 2023 before they were taken over by David Buttress, David Wright and Hoyoung Huh."Their job is to go and deal with it, they will fight our fight," said Macleod, who was speaking at a training session at Caerphilly RFC as the Dragons tour the region."It's probably just a bit of a shake-up, but we will live to fight another day. I am trusted to coach the team and I will trust them to fight our battle."I keep saying it to the players 'know your role, do your role'. There is no use getting stressed about something that I can't control, and I am just loving being here." 'White noise' Tight-head prop Dillon Lewis has returned to Wales after two seasons with former Cardiff front-rower was a member of the national side that faced England in the 2023 Six Nations after the threat of strike Lewis, 29, is experiencing another period of uncertainty for the professional game in Wales."If I am honest, it's white noise now," said the 57-times capped forward. "We are here to concentrate on rugby and it's definitely not our job to dictate what happens with the regions and regional game."All we can do is put our best foot forward on the pitch, try to get results and play well. Then, from the powers above, whatever will be, will be."That is definitely not something for us to concentrate on right now, and there are a lot of exciting things happening here at the Dragons so we've just got to concentrate on the rugby."

‘Don't cop that': Braith Anasta ‘put on spot' over Dragons saga, NRL outcast
‘Don't cop that': Braith Anasta ‘put on spot' over Dragons saga, NRL outcast

News.com.au

time13 hours ago

  • Sport
  • News.com.au

‘Don't cop that': Braith Anasta ‘put on spot' over Dragons saga, NRL outcast

Debate has reignited over Kyle Flanagan's continued selection for St George Illawarra, with Braith Anasta reluctantly weighing in on what it's been like for his client Lachlan Ilias as he struggles to get back into the team. The club is in a unique situation with Kyle the son of coach Shane Flanagan, leading to plenty of scrutiny during what has been a disappointing campaign. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Furthermore, backup halves Ilias and Jonah Glover have been knocking the door down in reserve grade, leading the Dragons' NSW Cup team to 10 wins from their past 12 games. Glover and Ilias missed out once again this weekend, with Flanagan picked at halfback for this weekend's clash against Canberra. Ilias, who joined the Dragons from Souths in the off-season, has played in seven NRL games in 2025. After a heavy loss to the Roosters in Round 8, Ilias was dropped and hasn't been able to win his spot back. Paul Crawley believes Flanagan simply wouldn't be continued to be picked if his dad wasn't the Dragons' coach. 'I would argue if Flanno wasn't the coach, I don't think Kyle would still be in the team,' Crawley said on NRL360. 'Because you've got to own up to the fact he tries his guts out – no one ever accuses him of not trying his guts out. But his kicking game hasn't been great. His game management hasn't been great. He doesn't pose a great attacking threat. 'You've got Ilias, who Shane Flanagan brought to the club – he brought him to the club to play halfback. He got dropped because of his game management. He (Ilias) went back and did what he had to do in reserve grade. 'They've lost their last four games and Flanno has dug his heels in and he's not gonna change. He's just not gonna change. But is that because Kyle's his son? Or because Kyle is just a player that he really believes is really playing to the best of his ability and Lachie can't come in and do something better?' Ilias is managed by NRL360 host Braith Anasta. Anasta said he was 'put on the spot' by a question from The Daily Telegraph's Dean Ritchie, who asked Anasta how Ilias was going 'emotionally and form wise'. 'That's a tough one. That's a tough one to ask,' he responded. 'I can't win here … Shane and the Dragons will think I'm having a crack – but if you want my honest opinion, he's gone back and did everything he's asked of. They've won 10 out of 11 games. And then pretty much because they lost one on the weekend, that's why he's not playing this week? I don't cop that. 'I've sat pretty quiet here. I don't want to get involved. It's hard for me. But he couldn't do any more. 'Unfortunately for him, I'm trying to keep him up because he's losing hope. I'm sure the other kid there, (Jonah) Glover is as well. 'Maybe I shouldn't say this, but I had to – because that's how I feel.' Earlier this week, the Dragons officially announced the hiring of former NRL coach Daniel Anderson to be the club's Head of Recruitment. One of Anderson's biggest tasks this off-season will be to search for the club's next marquee halfback. Rather bluntly, Dragons CEO Tim Watsford has publicly said that Flanagan won't be the club's halfback next season. 'Kyle was brought in as a 14 or utility to play a role,' Watsford said earlier this month. 'At the time, we had two halves in Benny Hunt and Junior Amone. That was where the club was heading. 'At the end of last year, we signed Daniel Atkinson from the Sharks and he will come in and play half in 2026. 'Kyle is there fulfilling a role for 2025 and fulfilling it well. Now, we're in the market and we'll be in the market for a marquee halfback. However, Crawley believes that Flanagan's continued insistence on selecting his son at halfback is 'doing the club damage' as the veteran journalist said it could be sending potential free agent targets a poor message. 'There's another layer to that too – another layer to the story in the fact the Dragons senior management has come out in recent weeks and said they're chasing a top line number 7,' Crawley said. 'Well, you'd have to question of the young guys coming through would you want to send a young 7 to the Dragons knowing that there's every chance Kyle stays at 7? They've shown no trust in the bloke they bought last year to play 7. 'I think it's doing the club damage – they might not want to admit it, but it's the truth.'

‘He's no Nadia Comaneci': Mark Riddell rates the best try celebrations of Try July
‘He's no Nadia Comaneci': Mark Riddell rates the best try celebrations of Try July

The Age

time19 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • The Age

‘He's no Nadia Comaneci': Mark Riddell rates the best try celebrations of Try July

In 2002, I produced the greatest post-try celebration of them all. That makes me eminently qualified to rate the class of 2025's offerings for Try July. In a world exclusive column, here are my critiques. Dragons star Zali Hopkins does a 'Pig Riddell' I'm an assistant coach for the Dragons, and Zali told me she was cooking up something special for me. She felt duty-bound to follow through because some of the girls in the team were poised to steal it. I'm certainly glad I didn't have to run as far for my version - Zali's had to travel 30 metres before she even gets to the fence. I wouldn't have got there. And neither of us was going to scale that massive wall at GIO Stadium. There's nothing wrong with a good remake. But the original is still the best. 8/10 'Up the milk' for Raiders pair This one flew under the radar a bit; it was done in the same game as the Zali Hopkins' effort. Good areas from Chante Temara and Sophie Holyman, they really lean into celebrating the areas surrounding Canberra that are farming regions. Even if it took me a moment to really zone in and work out what they were doing under there. Everyone loves the Canberra milk, and this one hits it out of the park for originality. 6/10

‘He's no Nadia Comaneci': Mark Riddell rates the best try celebrations of Try July
‘He's no Nadia Comaneci': Mark Riddell rates the best try celebrations of Try July

Sydney Morning Herald

time19 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Sydney Morning Herald

‘He's no Nadia Comaneci': Mark Riddell rates the best try celebrations of Try July

In 2002, I produced the greatest post-try celebration of them all. That makes me eminently qualified to rate the class of 2025's offerings for Try July. In a world exclusive column, here are my critiques. Dragons star Zali Hopkins does a 'Pig Riddell' I'm an assistant coach for the Dragons, and Zali told me she was cooking up something special for me. She felt duty-bound to follow through because some of the girls in the team were poised to steal it. I'm certainly glad I didn't have to run as far for my version - Zali's had to travel 30 metres before she even gets to the fence. I wouldn't have got there. And neither of us was going to scale that massive wall at GIO Stadium. There's nothing wrong with a good remake. But the original is still the best. 8/10 'Up the milk' for Raiders pair This one flew under the radar a bit; it was done in the same game as the Zali Hopkins' effort. Good areas from Chante Temara and Sophie Holyman, they really lean into celebrating the areas surrounding Canberra that are farming regions. Even if it took me a moment to really zone in and work out what they were doing under there. Everyone loves the Canberra milk, and this one hits it out of the park for originality. 6/10

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