Latest news with #FiloTiatia
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
New-look Dragons must get better
Thomas Young has embraced the pressure of helping the new-look Dragons turn around their 33-year-old flanker has moved from Cardiff as part of a substantial recruitment drive by the Rodney Parade team after a nightmare 2024-25 Tiatia's men finished bottom of the United Rugby Championship (URC) after losing 17 straight games following their opening weekend win against the Ospreys."With the signings that have been made and the boys that were already the core here, as a region we have to get better," said Young."That point has been put across to us quite hard over pre-season and it's up to us as players to make sure we go out and do that." Changing the record The Dragons finished 20 points behind 15th-placed Zebre while they also failed to qualify in the Challenge Cup after a solitary success at Newcastle."You play rugby to win and that's definitely our intention, we know that we have got to improve," said Young."That's what pre-season is about, to make sure we improve so that we go out there for the first game and build on what the boys did last year. We've got to get better."Dragons last avoided being Wales' bottom team in 2020, when the Ospreys had that have been plenty of false dawns at Rodney Parade but Young & co are determined to change the record."It's got to turn at some point," he said. "The squad is completely different with a lot of new signings, who have been brought in for a reason."We will soon find out, but it's up to us in the off season to make sure we are on the same page and pushing each other forward, because we should be doing a lot better." Hunting a starting spot Young came through the ranks at Cardiff and then, after spells in England with Gloucester and Wasps, returned to the Arms Park in 2022 to play for his father flanker made 14 appearances last season under Matt Sherratt but eight of those outings were off the hopes to lose his tag as an impact sub and earn the number seven jersey when the URC gets under way against Ulster in Belfast on 26 September."I didn't play as much as I wanted to last year but I still enjoyed it," said Young. "I was involved a fair bit, I only missed the first few games through injury but after that was fit and available."Everyone wants to start but I got seen as something different last year. That was a role I enjoyed but I've come here and want to be starting."Young wants to be in the starting side after effectively swapping clubs with fellow dynamic back-rower Taine he will also be a mentor for young forwards and will soon be joined at training by open-side Harry Beddall, a summer signing from Leicester who is fresh from captaining Wales at the World Rugby U20 Championship."I've seen what he has done with the 20s and it's exciting to work with someone like that," said Young."He is well thought of and hopefully I can also learn stuff off him - as much as I can help him, he can help me. "His legs might be fresher but I'd like to think I'll push him as much as he pushes me."
South Wales Argus
15-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Dragons RFC European fixtures for 2025/26 campaign announced
Tournament organisers EPCR have confirmed the dates for the pool stages of the EPCR Challenge Cup. The Dragons are set to face French Top 14 heavyweights Lyon and the Newcastle Falcons from the English Premiership at Rodney Parade. The Men of Gwent, playing in Pool 2, kick off their campaign against Perpignan at Stade Aimé Giral on Sunday, December 7, with a 2pm local time start. The following weekend will see Filo Tiatia's squad welcome last season's runners-up, Lyon, to Rodney Parade for a 3.15pm kick-off on Sunday, December 14. Round 3 will have the Dragons on the road again, this time facing United Rugby Championship rivals Benetton Rugby at Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Saturday, January 10, with a 6.30pm start in local time. The group stages will conclude with a home fixture against Newcastle Falcons on Friday, January 16, under the Rodney Parade lights, with an 8pm kick-off. The EPCR fixtures for the 2025/26 season are as follows: Round 1: Sunday, December 7: USAP vs Dragons RFC, Stade Aimé Giral, 2pm local time. Round 2: Sunday, December 14: Dragons RFC vs Lyon Olympique. Rodney Parade, 3.15pm. Round 3: Saturday, January 10: Benetton Rugby vs Dragons RFC, Stadio Comunale di Monigo, 6.30pm local time. Round 4: Friday, January 16: Dragons RFC vs Newcastle Falcons, Rodney Parade, 8pm. In other news, Dragons RFC's Rodrigo Martinez has been selected for the Argentina XV squad for the upcoming international against Romania. The loosehead, after training with the squad, is now part of the selection process for the second fixture. The game will be on Friday, July 18, at Club Atlético San Isidro in Buenos Aires. Argentina, having beaten Brazil 45-17 earlier this month, aim to secure a double in the July international window. Team news will be announced later this week.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dragons sign backs Lloyd and Richards
Dragons have signed fly-half Jac Lloyd and utility back David Wales Under-20s player Lloyd, 22, joins Dragons after impressing at Newport RFC and having previously had spells at Bristol Bears and Hartpury returns to Dragons having previously played four times for the 25-year-old also arrives from Newport RFC."Both players know what it takes in a professional environment and are eager to grab the chance when it comes," said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cardiff number eight Martin joins Dragons on loan
Wales number eight Mackenzie Martin will join Dragons from Cardiff on loan for the 2025-26 made his Cardiff debut against Stormers in November 2023 and was given his Wales debut during the 2024 Six 21-year-old found his opportunities limited in the Cardiff back row in the 2024-25 campaign and will link up with Dragons next becomes the club's 10th new recruit alongside Fetuli Paea, Tinus de Beer, Thomas Young, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Fine Inisi, Levi Douglas, Seb Davies and Harry Beddall."We're looking forward to welcoming Mackenzie and I know he is motivated to make a big impression in our group," said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia. "Mackenzie is an international class back row who will increase the competition in our squad for the number eight jersey, alongside Aaron Wainwright, Solomone Funaki and Harrison Keddie."
South Wales Argus
18-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Dragons closing in on Mackenzie Martin from Cardiff
The 21-year-old from Ely is under contract for another season at Cardiff but talks are ongoing about him becoming the fourth player to switch from the Arms Park to Rodney Parade this summer. The Dragons have held talks with Martin and got references from those who know him well, but a move was held up due to the Blue and Blacks wanting compensation. However, it now looks like the five-times capped forward will be making the move and will become a ball-carrying option for head coach Filo Tiatia. Martin's route to the XV will be just as formidable at the Dragons as it was at Cardiff – Wainwright is the shoo-in rather than Taulupe Faletau – but there is a lack of specialist depth. TARGET: The Dragons are in talks for Cardiff and Wales forward Mackenzie Martin (Image: PA) Taine Basham has left for the capital and there are big question marks over the future of Solomone Funaki, who is yet to play for the club because of injury. The Tongan suffered a knee infection after opting for a summer clean out operation last summer, then suffered an arm injury when playing in Super Rygbi Cymru and ended the campaign with more knee issues. Funaki is still on the books but must prove he is up to the demands of professional rugby after his injury misfortune. Harri Keddie is a possible option at number eight but is now seen more as a flanker while Evan Minto and Owen Conquer are up-and-coming prospects likely to play plenty of SRC. The Dragons want Ryan Woodman and Shane Lewis-Hughes to be their leading senior blindside options and Thomas Young, Keddie and Harry Beddall to be contenders at 7. That means Martin would have a good shot at racking up minutes in the United Rugby Championship, whether as a starter or adding oomph off the bench. The promising prospect will hope to get his career back on track in 2025/26 after making just six replacement appearances last season at pro level and nine for the Rags in SRC, with four of them as a lock. The Dragons have had a busy recruitment drive with deals confirmed for nine players – wing Fine Inisi, centre Fetuli Paea, fly-half Tinus de Beer, loosehead Wyn Jones, tighthead Dillon Lewis, locks Levi Douglas and Seb Davies and opensides Young and Beddall. South African tighthead Robert Hunt is arriving from the Cheetahs while a scrum-half is needed to join Rhodri Williams, Morgan Lloyd, Che Hope and Logan Franklin. Franklin faces a spell on the sidelines with a broken arm that ruled him out of the World Rugby U20 Championship.
