Dragons Fail in Euro Bid

No Heine for Dragons
By Andrew Collins
June 3 2006

The Newport-Gwent Dragons will play Challenge Cup rugby next year, following a sad defeat to Overmach Parma.

The Dragons 24-15 loss at Rodney Parade signals a new low not just for rugby in Newport, but in Wales. It's the first time a Welsh region has failed to reach the Heineken cup, and will represent some worrying times for Cardiff's biggest rivals.

In recent weeks the Newport based region has seen key players Hal Luscombe and Jason Forster leave the side, but the latest set back is perhaps the lowest time for the Dragons in their short history.

Even as rivals, its hard not to feel anything but pity for their fans, who's hopes have been turned upside down in recent weeks, following a dire season. With money crisis' and player departures, it's hard to see a future for the region, other than a development role simular to that of the Borders in Scotland. Their lack of funding since Tony Brown's depature perhaps the main reason, but also a lack of desire in the region, offering fans little hope.

Parma were good on the day, but were there for the taking. It's not a sign of how rugby has dveloped in Italy, but a showing of failure in terms of regionalisation in Wales. We are still reliant on outside investers for the teams, without Peter Thomas we too could face extinsion, and its a sign that rugby is not developing in Wales, but maybe getting worse.

Cardiff finished 4th in the Celtic League this season, and were Wales' highest placed team, though a great achievement for the capital, shouldn't the principality be doing better. 18 months ago, Wales celebrated a magnificent Grand Slam, but in light of tonight's disasterous affair, it seems a repeat of that next year, is all but a hazy summer's dream.