Calls for professional rugby to remain in Newport have grown stronger as the Welsh Rugby Union’s consultation begins.
Newport City Council has joined concerns over the potential loss of professional rugby in the city, emphasising the Dragons’ role in the community.
They noted that the club engages with more than 120,000 young people annually and provides various community services, including wheelchair rugby and mental health support.
The council believes that the absence of professional rugby would impact this work and the footfall that match days bring to the city centre.
In 2010, the Dragons and their fans completed a world record number of five-metre passes with a rugby ball (Image: Huw Evans Agency)
Councillor Dimitri Batrouni, the council leader, said: “We must retain Dragons RFC in Newport and Gwent.
“Newport City Council will continue to support and work in lockstep with the club to maintain professional elite rugby in our city and our region.”
The Dragons, despite their inconsistent performances over the years, have a dedicated fan base and have been a staple at Rodney Parade since 2003.
Their academy teams provide a route for young players to progress to the senior side.
The Dragons have had a strong fanbase since regional rugby began in 2003 (Image: Gareth Everett)
There has been concern over the future of the Dragons for a number of years, with a 2022 campaign run by the Argus to keep the Dragons after a previous consultation was announced.
The club has claimed they are making ‘real progress’ towards financial stability and are ‘fully focused on driving forward on-field performances.’
The club’s owners, David Wright, David Buttress, and Hoyoung Huh, said: “When we took over the Dragons in 2023, our ambition was clear: we wanted to build a club that could thrive both on and off the field.
“That commitment has not changed.”
The owners also highlighted their intention to participate in the Welsh Rugby Union’s (WRU) consultation on the future of the game in Wales, stating: “Our message will be simple and consistent – elite rugby must remain in Gwent and Dragons RFC has every reason to continue proudly in its current form.”
The WRU’s consultation, which begins on September 1, aims to gather feedback on the future of elite rugby in Wales.
The options include maintaining four professional clubs with unequal funding, reducing to three clubs with equal or unequal funding, or condensing down to two clubs with equal funding.
The Argus ran a campaign in 2022 to save the Dragons (Image: South Wales Argus)
WRU CEO Abi Tierney said: “We are clear that the current rugby model in Wales is no longer delivering what our game needs.
“That’s why we’re inviting views on the opportunities for change we’ve put forward — so we can bring the One Wales Strategy to life.
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“No decisions have been made, and it’s crucial that we work together.”
The consultation will run until September 26, with an online survey.
The WRU is seeking a sustainable future for Welsh rugby through this consultation, with the aim of narrowing the gap between Wales’ leading heritage clubs and the elite professional game.
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