Newport Gwent Dragons begin their 2006/07 Magners League campaign with an away game against Glasgow on Friday (kick off 7.30pm) and have selected academy members Gareth Maule and Alex Walker in the starting XV.
Centre Gareth Maule a member of the Wales U19 Grand Slam winning side impressed in The Dragons pre season match against Bath on the weekend as well as in training throughout the summer. Gareth has just completed his A Levels gaining the grades he needs to study Sport Management at Cardiff University. Gareth has been in the Gwent rugby system since the age of 12 playing for Pontypool United Youth and has been a member of The Dragons academy since its inception. He is a long, rangy centre who possesses good speed, athleticism and has developed his power since being with the academy and now stands at 95kg.
Dragons Fitness Coach Paul Bunce worked with the academy last season before moving up to work alongside the senior side and is delighted to see the academy members get their chance saying, "Both Alex and Gareth have worked hard physically over the last year and the way they are playing at the moment represents all their hard work paying off. It's good to see academy members given an opportunity and I'm sure they'll be up for the game in all aspects. I think it has shown the academy system is starting to allow regions to have a development process which sees players who have the necessary attributes step up. All regions need to rely on strength of depth if they are to get through a long, tough season and Alex and Gareth are proof of this depth. Both have seen marked improvements in strength, size, speed and fitness over the past year."
Scrum half Alex Walker is another success story of the Gwent rugby system and is second only to Dwayne Peel for fastest service just one of several tests players go through to show their development. Alex too has been with the academy since its birth and has a definite hard edge about him as a player. Since his shoulder injury sustained in the middle of last season, which kept him out for three months, Alex has gone from strength to strength.
Speaking on making his competitive debut Alex said, "My opportunity has come sooner than expected especially as it is an important position on the pitch but it is nice to be given a chance. I was given game time against Bath and I will go into Friday night's match aiming to do the best I can. The academy has helped me prepare for the step up to professional regional rugby especially conditioning wise which means I am prepared for the rigours of the modern game. I am excited to be involved on Friday night and to make the starting XV. Glasgow will be a tough game and it is hard to go up to Scotland, we beat them on both occasions last season but this is our first competitive game of the season and there are things we have to work on if we are to get a result."
Also making their competitive debuts for the region are Aled Brew, Joe Bearman and Nic Fitisemanu. All three have played well in The Dragons pre season games to date and get their opportunity in The Dragons first Magners League game against Glasgow.
"I am looking forward to the start of the league competition and making the step up from the English first division to the Magners League," commented flanker Joe Bearman. "Naturally I am delighted to make the starting XV for the first game. I have been working hard along with all the squad over the summer and will grasp my opportunity with both hands. Glasgow will be a tough challenge for us and to me personally they are an unknown quantity as I haven't played them before but the boys have warned me what to expect! Playing away in Scotland is a difficult way to open our Magners League campaign but along with the rest of the squad I am hoping to put right The Dragons poor away form."
Lock Ian Gough returns for The Dragons after completing his pre season training and starts in the second row. Gareth Wyatt moves from the wing to fullback while hooker Steve Jones has recovered from his shoulder injury to make the starting XV. Fly half Craig Warlow captains the side.
"Our pre season matches are now behind us and it is down to the serious business of the season," commented Head Coach Paul Turner. "We will be judged by what happens on the pitch on Friday night and throughout the course of the season so it is imperative we get a good start. We began our league campaign last season with an away win at Glasgow and we are aiming to do the same this year but it will be a tough challenge. They have recruited well over the summer, have a strong management team and have already claimed the scalp of Guinness Premiership side Newcastle in pre season. A number of players are making their competitive debuts on Friday while we have a strong replacements bench which I believe shows our strength in depth. Training has been competitive this week with each player desperate to pull on a Dragons jersey and there is real competition for places and as a coach those are the things you want to see."
On the replacements bench Ben Daly has recovered from his elbow injury which forced him to leave the field last Friday night against Bath and he is joined by Dragons new comers Lee Harrison, Colin Charvis and Mike Hercus.
The Dragons recorded two wins from two last season against Glasgow beating them at Hughenden (15-21) and at Rodney Parade (32-18).
"The good thing is we know how to win at Glasgow but we are aware of the challenge they pose and are not underestimating them in the slightest," continued Paul. "We welcome Ian and Steve back into the squad and they will add some steel to our pack. Training has gone well this week and we will look to take what we have done on the training paddock onto the field at Hughenden. What has been especially pleasing is the players attitude and there is tremendous spirit in the squad which is hugely important. The new players have settled in well and contributed both on and off the field so we travel to Glasgow with a real buzz around the squad."
Dragons Starting XV
Gareth Wyatt, Nathan Brew, Gareth Maule, Ceri Sweeney, Aled Brew, Craig Warlow (c), Alex Walker, Adam Black, Steve Jones, Rhys Thomas, Bryn Griffiths, Ian Gough, Joe Bearman, Jamie Ringer, Nic Fitisemanu.
Replacements
Ben Daly, Lee Harrison, Andrew Hall, Colin Charvis, Shane Stewart, Mike Hercus, Gareth Baber
