Garndiffaith were the latest valley's club to get on board and show their support to their regional rugby team the Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday night.
Garndiffaith organised a coach trip and travelled to Rodney Parade to watch The Dragons take on Edinburgh in the Magners League.
The Division Four East club have established strong links with The Dragons this season with forwards coach Leigh Jones offering his coaching advice by taking some training sessions and as a result Garndiffaith remain undefeated in the Asda League this season.
The involvement of a regional coach with his club side has naturally met with approval from coach at Garndiffiath Steve Cross and he was quick to point out the benefits of the region taking an interest in the smaller clubs. As a result of The Dragons involvement he had no hesitation in organising a trip to watch the Men of Gwent in action.
"We have had links with The Dragons this season with coach Leigh Jones visiting training and it has really made a difference," explained Steve Cross. "We haven't lost in the league so far this season and we have won all five of our games. Leigh Jones has been up and I have personally spoken to Paul Turner as well as spending a week down with The Dragons observing training. We took a good number down with us for the game against Edinburgh after the squad expressed an interest in the team (The Dragons) over summer which is partly down to the interest the coaches in the region have taken in us. They really have been helpful and nothing has been too much trouble for them. As a result of the guys in the team (Garndiffaith) taking an interest in the regional side the first result we now look for is The Dragons one and we look forward to games being on a Friday night as it means we can come down and show our support and it was good to see them get a good result against Edinburgh."
Earlier in the season Cross Keys and Monmouth both organised trips to watch The Dragons at Rodney Parade and support for the region is continuing to grow from clubs in the area. All 50 clubs in the Dragons region receive free tickets to every match at Rodney Parade and if clubs organise coach trips then they receive an allocation of free tickets which covers the cost of the coach. Following on from Leigh Jones' example, Paul Turner has run sessions at Fleur de Lys and Newport Saracens while Dai Rees has been up to Newbridge.
"It is fantastic to see clubs in the region showing their support to The Dragons," commented Head Coach Paul Turner. "We have been building relationships over the course of the last 18 months and these are continuing to grow and develop. Regional rugby is still in its infancy and unless it is a two way process then regional rugby won't work. I am pleased to report that we have established these two way relationships, we knew that it would take time but slowly and surely it is happening. Everybody is starting to buy into it but it is important that this continues. It is great to be in a position to pass on our (the coaching team) knowledge and experience to club coaches in the region and it is important that we are out and about in the region. We have been met with positive response from the clubs who are keen to support The Dragons."
It is not only the senior club sides who are benefiting from The Dragons interest in them but at junior and youth level clubs have benefited from the Adopt a Player scheme where the majority of clubs in the region can use their adopted player to their advantage. On request their allocated player will visit the club on three separate occasions throughout the season to help with events such as coaching and presentation evenings. The scheme applies to junior / mini sections only.
"The Adopt a Player scheme is another initiative we have developed this season as we continue to extend relationships with our local clubs," continued Paul. "By having a player allocated to them for use three times throughout the course of the season will no doubt be of benefit to sides who run mini and junior sections for example, Ceri Sweeney has adopted Machen and Monmouth have Luke Charteris.
"At the end of the month the squad will be embarking on their school visits which sees the squad divided into three and visit schools in the county boroughs of Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Monmouth. Local primary schools are invited to the comprehensive for a training session and the chance to meet The Dragons squad. There is a lot of work continuing to be done in our region as we look to grow the game at a grass roots level however, without the support of the clubs and schools in our region we would not be in the position we are."
