Latest news with #Dragons'
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Huw Anderson urged to keep playing with freedom for Dragons
Co-captain O'Brien is full of praise for his fellow full-back after he caught the eye in a challenging United Rugby Championship campaign. The 20-year-old from Caerphilly made his professional debut in 2023/24 but it was last season when he really stepped up. Anderson made his first start at Newcastle in the Challenge Cup and scored the club's try of the season with a rapid counter-attack. He ended with 13 appearances and four tries while he topped the Dragons' charts in the URC for clean breaks (15), offloads (9) and metres gained (708). O'Brien, who can play fly-half as well as full-back, was encouraged by the former Wales Under-20s international's displays. RAPID: Huw Anderson on the run for the Dragons (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) 'Huw has been brilliant and played with confidence and freedom,' he said. 'His first thought is always to have a crack and look for space, he is very good on the ball and at beating defenders. 'The coaches want us to play what is in front of us and use our super strengths; his are running with the ball and beating defenders. 'If he keeps working hard – and I am sure he will – then he has a very good career in front of him.' Anderson was joined in stepping up by Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Evan Minto, Harri Ford, Harry Rees-Weldon and Owain James. Forwards Ryan Woodman and Brodie Coghlan and centre Joe Westwood also added to their experience 'It wasn't a great season in terms of results but young players like Huw really stood up, and that's important for the future of the region.' Anderson and O'Brien will battle for the 15 jersey with Ewan Rosser and Cai Evans, who is eyeing an autumn return from a ruptured Achilles. O'Brien and Evans have a new rival at fly-half in Tinus de Beer, who is joining from Cardiff. 'I've worked with Huw on different parts of his game and tried to use my experience to help him,' said the 30-year-old from Caerleon. 'Competition is what we need and want, it should bring the best out of people, and i am a big fan of Tinus having watched him at Cardiff. I'm looking forward to him coming in.'
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
'Without a doubt': Dragon tipped to bounce back to NRL
Tyrell Sloan will "without a doubt" feature at NRL level again soon, St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has said after dropping the winger for round 14. Clint Gutherson usurped Sloan at fullback this season and the 23-year-old has now been overlooked for NRL selection for a second time this year after playing NSW Cup in round one But Flanagan said the call to axe Sloan from Friday night's game against the Dolphins was as much about Christian Tuipulotu's return to fitness as it was about form. Tuipulotu was superb on the left wing before a seven-week hamstring lay-off, with Flanagan also hesitant to drop Nathan Lawson after a great NRL debut on the wing last week. "It's not just Tyrell ... we've got competition for spots," Flanagan said. "Everyone's held accountable and you've got to perform well. Tyrell's no different, so 'CT' comes back in. "Those two wingers know that he's just waiting there to come back. It provides a good culture, winning culture for the first team." Sloan will not have the chance to impress Flanagan this weekend because the Dragons' NSW Cup side is on the bye. But the local junior is contracted through to the end of 2026 and appears the next man in line should injury or suspension strike the Dragons' back-line. Flanagan expected to see Sloan back in the top grade soon and said he had the attitude to make a comeback happen. "Without a doubt. He's a talented footy player," the coach said. "He's got some things to work on ... so go back and work on them and he'll be back. "He's a good kid, there's no question marks about any of those players (on the fringes), about their character, their effort or their attitude." Lachlan Ilias has already convinced Flanagan he'll be ready for a recall to the NRL side's halves if required after spending the past five weeks in NSW Cup. "Him and (back-up five-eighth) Jonah Glover have been outstanding in reserve grade. They're a class above and they're ready to play first grade," Flanagan said. "Lachie had a few things to tidy up in his game from the start of the season and he's doing that." Tuipulotu looks set to return on the left wing after training there at the Dragons' captain's run, with rugby sevens convert Lawson to shift to the right edge. Flanagan has reiterated to the energetic Tuipulotu that he doesn't want to see his famous "money man" try celebration if the Dragons are behind on the scoreboard in his comeback game. "He's been told there are a few boundaries around it. Let's be in front," he said. "He's that sort of character, he's always high in energy. You see him running in if there's a big play in the middle part of the field or on the other side of the field than he is. "We're lucky to have him back."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Without a doubt': Dragon tipped to bounce back to NRL
Tyrell Sloan will "without a doubt" feature at NRL level again soon, St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has said after dropping the winger for round 14. Clint Gutherson usurped Sloan at fullback this season and the 23-year-old has now been overlooked for NRL selection for a second time this year after playing NSW Cup in round one But Flanagan said the call to axe Sloan from Friday night's game against the Dolphins was as much about Christian Tuipulotu's return to fitness as it was about form. Tuipulotu was superb on the left wing before a seven-week hamstring lay-off, with Flanagan also hesitant to drop Nathan Lawson after a great NRL debut on the wing last week. "It's not just Tyrell ... we've got competition for spots," Flanagan said. "Everyone's held accountable and you've got to perform well. Tyrell's no different, so 'CT' comes back in. "Those two wingers know that he's just waiting there to come back. It provides a good culture, winning culture for the first team." Sloan will not have the chance to impress Flanagan this weekend because the Dragons' NSW Cup side is on the bye. But the local junior is contracted through to the end of 2026 and appears the next man in line should injury or suspension strike the Dragons' back-line. Flanagan expected to see Sloan back in the top grade soon and said he had the attitude to make a comeback happen. "Without a doubt. He's a talented footy player," the coach said. "He's got some things to work on ... so go back and work on them and he'll be back. "He's a good kid, there's no question marks about any of those players (on the fringes), about their character, their effort or their attitude." Lachlan Ilias has already convinced Flanagan he'll be ready for a recall to the NRL side's halves if required after spending the past five weeks in NSW Cup. "Him and (back-up five-eighth) Jonah Glover have been outstanding in reserve grade. They're a class above and they're ready to play first grade," Flanagan said. "Lachie had a few things to tidy up in his game from the start of the season and he's doing that." Tuipulotu looks set to return on the left wing after training there at the Dragons' captain's run, with rugby sevens convert Lawson to shift to the right edge. Flanagan has reiterated to the energetic Tuipulotu that he doesn't want to see his famous "money man" try celebration if the Dragons are behind on the scoreboard in his comeback game. "He's been told there are a few boundaries around it. Let's be in front," he said. "He's that sort of character, he's always high in energy. You see him running in if there's a big play in the middle part of the field or on the other side of the field than he is. "We're lucky to have him back."
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Dragons prop Chris Coleman hunting first Wales cap in Japan
The 26-year-old from Garndiffaith was last week selected as one of three tightheads in the 33-strong squad for the summer tour. It was reward for another strong campaign in which he played in 19 of 22 games, with 15 of them as a starter. Coleman established himself as first choice on the right-hand side of the front row after the retirements of Leon Brown and Lloyd Fairbrother, plus injuries to Dmitri Arhip and Luke Yendle. He racked up the minutes and, after returning from the Dragons' double-header in South Africa against the Stormers and Bulls, was ready to clock off for the summer when he got a pleasant surprise on squad announcement day. REWARD: Dragons prop Chris Coleman has been named in Wales' summer squad (Image: Gareth Everett) 'I was in the house on my own, went on my email and one had already been there for around half an hour,' said Coleman, who made his Dragons debut in 2018. 'It said congratulations on making the 33-man squad, I thought it might have been someone having me on and but on the CC list you could see the others that it had been sent to. 'I realised it must be true and rang my dad, mum and girlfriend to tell them all before the announcement. It was a nice moment for the family.' Coleman has already taken part in the optional sessions for those not involved in play-off games; working up a sweat at the Vale Resort rather than soaking up the sun on the Aegean Sea. He said: 'I'd booked a cruise to the Greek islands for my girlfriend's 30th, she was happy that I had got in the squad but it caused her a lot of stress trying to sell it! I'll have to rebook it.' Coleman will hope to go on holiday as a Wales international by featuring on the two-Test tour, with clashes against the Brave Blossoms on July 5 and 12. He will work closely with legendary former Wales and Lions tighthead Adam Jones plus ex-Dragons forwards coach Danny Wilson, a man who is notorious for his detail at the set piece. 'Adam Jones is a legend of the game and one of the best props that there has ever been, so I am looking forward to working with him and so many others,' said Coleman. 'I'm excited about what camp will be like and I'll try to take it in my stride, work hard and show my best rugby. I definitely want to push on and get that first cap, I don't want to just come in and train.' SELECTED: Chris Coleman will join Dragons teammate Aaron Wainwright in the Wales squad (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency) He will have stiff competition for the 3 jersey next season from Wales international Dillon Lewis and South African Robert Hunt, whose arrival from the Cheetahs is yet to be confirmed. Coleman has taken his tally of Dragons appearances up to 81 – more than Brown managed – and has totted up 16, 20, 12 and 19 outings in the last four campaigns. Time in the middle has served him well and put him in with a chance of playing for his country. 'I've been aiming for this since I was young and there has been a lot of hard work to get to this point,' he said. 'At times it has been a tough slog but I always enjoy my rugby at the Dragons, and feel there is a lot more to come from me when I come back for next season. 🏴 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙤 𝙞'𝙧 𝙜𝙖𝙧𝙛𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣 🙌 💥 A look at him in action for @dragonsrfc👇#WelshRugby — Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) May 28, 2025 'Others have been unlucky with injury but that has almost been a good thing for me – I have played a lot of games and I have never seen that as a burden. 'I've had the opportunities to play and that is the best way to learn, so I want to keep getting the games in. 'There are definitely plenty of hard times as a prop – especially with the South African teams in the league now – and I am still relatively young. 'I am looking forward to the summer but also coming back to try and kick on personally and as a team to get some results.' And Coleman would love to be part of a 23-man squad that ends Wales' Test losing streak at Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu.
The Age
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
NRL 2025 LIVE: Cowboys v Tigers, Sea Eagles v Broncos
Loading Go to latest Who wins in Townsville tonight? 4.59pm The King delivers as Dragons' new faces step up against clunky Knights By Adrian Proszenko Moments before kick-off, in a bid to rev up the faithful and celebrate St George Illawarra's invitation to Vegas, an Elvis impersonator did his thing. When Elvis left the building, the real 'King' strutted onto Nestrata Jubilee Stadium. Clint Gutherson may only be 11 games into his Dragons stint, but already he has given the Red V a slew of hits and memories. Against a form fullback – Fletcher Sharpe again deputised for Kalyn Ponga, whose ankle pulled up sore after State of Origin – Gutherson again left his mark. The former Parramatta captain scored a try and led from the front as the Red V climbed into sixth spot on the ladder with a 20-6 win over Newcastle. 4.50pm Who wins in Townsville tonight? 4.46pm Welcome Good afternoon footy fans. Billie Eder here to take you through tonight's matches, starting with the Cowboys and Tigers at 5:30pm in Townsville, followed by the Sea Eagles and Broncos from 7:35pm. North Queensland are the favourites for this match, but they have a couple of Origin players who are backing up after Wednesday night and could be feeling the fatigue. Meanwhile, the Tigers are playing their first match since Lachlan Galvin's exit, with the young playmaker no officially a Bulldogs player.
