WRU Chief Executive Steve Lewis will present the Dragons Regional Community Squad with their WRU Regional Community Championship trophy ahead of the Dragons’ Heineken Cup play-off match against Overmach Parma this evening (Friday).
The Dragons won five of their six games against the other Regional Community sides in the competition which are made up of players from clubs in Asda Divisions One to Five.
They beat the Ospreys home and away, the Scarlets at home and notched away wins against Gogledd and the Blues – only losing out by a point away to the Scarlets on February 21 (14-13).
Not all matches were able to be fulfilled in the inaugural tournament due to numerous instances of inclement weather which particularly affected the North Wales side. However, with 24 points, The Dragons finished the season 15 points clear of second placed Scarlets and have been awarded the title.
Players who figured in this season’s competition have a chance of making a Welsh National Community Squad and the side’s first international fixtures are set to be confirmed in the next few weeks.
WRU Regional Community Manager for the Dragons region, Gerry Roberts said players and clubs throughout the Region have been hugely enthusiastic about the concept of the WRU Regional Community competition: “The Dragons squad this season was made up of over 35 players from 18 clubs from throughout the region and their commitment and attitude towards training and playing in this tournament has been outstanding. It is also important to thank the clubs as this competition would not have happened without the support of the clubs in the region. The players have been a credit to their clubs and the backroom staff, including coaches Steve Hill and Steve Pritchard, team managers David Phenis and Bryn Parker, selector Brian Watkins and everyone else who has given their team and energy to this initiative in a voluntary capacity have been superb. It would be fantastic for some of these players to make it into a National Community Squad and pull on the red shirt of Wales.”
Results season 05/06
1. 8th November Dragons 8 Scarlets 5
2. 22nd November Ospreys 15 Blues 22
3. 6th December Dragons 29 Ospreys15
4. 17th January Gogledd 9 Scarlets 18
5. 7th February Scarlets 8 Blues 19
6. 7th February Gogledd 8 Dragons 12
7. 14th February Blues 13 Dragons 27
8. 21st February Scarlets 14 Dragons 13
9. 27th February Ospreys 38 Scarlets 12
10. 13th March Ospreys 19 Dragons 22
Dragons Community squad:
Forwards: Ross Jones, Anthony Lott (Bargoed), Simon Jones (Blackwood), Ben Harding, Jamie Noble (Blaina), Daniel Preece (Brynmawr), Peter Harrison, David Brake, Andrew Packer (Caerphilly), Lee Williams (Croesyceiliog), Mark Davies (Fleur-de-Lys), Richar Walker (Newport Saracens), Ross Palmer (Pill Harriers), Kristian Gay, Lee Edwards (Tredegar)
Backs: Jamie Howells, Lee Pearson, Darren Humphries, Gareth McCarthy, Lewis Wayman (all Bargoed), David James, Robert Smith (Blackwod), Shaun Thomas (Blaina), Philip Price, Ian Jenkins (Caerphilly), Nathan Gittings, Brett Green (Fleur de Lys), Karl Rees, Shaun Thomas (Penallta), Mark Thoroughgood, Leighton Burrows (Pill Harriers), Rhodri Jones (Talywaun)
