Newport Gwent Dragons conclude their preparations for the 2005/06 season with a pre season friendly match against Bath on Saturday at Rodney Parade, (kick off 2.30pm.) Saturday’s match could see a number of players returning for The Dragons with Welsh Internationals Ian Gough and Luke Charteris named in the squad and are likely to play a part along with those who have previously featured in The Dragons warm-up games.
Ceri Sweeney will undergo a fitness test at the end of the week to determine whether he will play a part in the match. Looking ahead to the match Dragons head coach Paul Turner commented, “Saturday’s game is the last opportunity for us as a squad to finally gel together. We have had a difficult summer with lots of players away on international duty and some are still to take part in training and games. We have given the youngsters in the squad a chance and a number have taken the opportunity. Bath arrive with an array of international players and with an eye on next week’s Guinness Premiership match against rivals Bristol. They will be hugely competitive upfront and have a fluid attacking back line. The game will also act as a marker for where we are against English opposition and we will know the area’s we have to improve on come the Powergen Cup and Heineken Cup, with Leicester only a month away. Saturday’s game will tell us more about ourselves and where we are ahead of our first Celtic League match against Glasgow next Friday.”
Like The Dragons, Bath are going for their third consecutive pre season win. The Dragons won comfortably against the Gwent Select XV and last weekend had a narrow win over the Cornish Pirates. Speaking about last weekend’s match Paul continued, “We fielded a young side against the Cornish Pirates and we started very well. We squandered a few chances and we cannot afford to do that on Saturday. The pre season games have allowed the management team the opportunity to see players in action and they have gained valuable game time ahead of the start of the Celtic League. Players have been able to gain some match fitness and shown us the areas of our game that need to be worked on but we need to raise our game another level against Bath.”
Ian Gough is welcomed back into the squad for Saturday’s match having completed his ten-week pre season training. Commenting on the game he said, “I am looking forward to playing some part in Saturday’s game and in front of the home supporters. Everyone has been working hard since mid-June to ensure that come our opening Celtic League match we are ready and Saturday’s game forms an important part of that preparation. I am sure there will be a tremendous atmosphere on Saturday as Bath have a big following and their supporters are very passionate about their rugby as are The Dragons fans.”
Tickets for the Bath game are available from the Rodney Parade ticket office call 01633 674990 to reserve your ticket. Season ticket holders will get into the game free of charge and season tickets are now available for collection from the ticket office.
Dragons Squad
Leigh Hinton, Gareth Wyatt, Hal Luscombe, Steve Winn, Jon Bryant, Sione Tuipulotu, Ben Breeze, Richard Fussell, Ceri Sweeney, Craig Warlow, Aled Thomas, Alex Walker, Gareth Baber, Adam Black, David Maddocks, Kieran Crawford, Gethin Robinson, Rhys Thomas, Andrew Hall, Ian Gough, Luke Charteris, Peter Sidoli, Jamie Ringer, Rhys Oakley, Jason Forster, Richard Bryan.
