We launch Eco Dragons for a third successive season this Sunday - as we team up with our friends at Pledgeball and invite our incredible fans to join us in protecting the places we play and love.
Our triple award-winning Eco campaign has made huge strides over the last two seasons as we look to improve our sustainability, carbon footprint and drive positive change.
To give the campaign momentum over the last two years, we teamed up with several partners including Pledgeball, to gave fans an online platform to visually take a stand on sustainability.
Fans can then make a pledge to take actions, actions that together make a significant difference, and will save money at the same time.
Our EPCR Challenge Cup fixture at Rodney Parade with Lyon this Sunday is our designated first ‘Eco game’ of the season.
A Pledgeball fixture is our chance to unite and make small, powerful changes to #ProtectWhereWePlay. Every pledge you make sends a clear message to clubs, governing bodies, and businesses that we demand action!
How You Can Help
Getting involved is easy. Pledge to take simple actions—like cutting down food waste, swapping to reusable water bottles, or choosing public transport on matchdays.
Every pledge takes us closer to making a real impact, and the more we commit, the stronger our message. Dragons fans, your influence is massive!
Did you know:
- If a Rodney Parade's worth of fans switched to a green energy supplier, it would be the equivalent of taking 1,070 cars off the road!
These choices reduce emissions; they also create a ripple effect, inspiring friends, family, and communities to make more sustainable decisions. Join us in making this Pledgeball fixture one to remember.
PLEDGE HERE and be part of the movement, and let’s protect the future of rugby together!
David Watts, Sustainability Lead at Dragons RFC, said: “Dragons fans have been absolutely outstanding over the last two seasons and we’re excited to now roll out this initiative into a third campaign.
“It’s easy to feel like our individual actions don’t matter, but when we come together, the effects are immense and far-reaching.
“We are committed to this cause, and I’m excited to see what we can now achieve together this season."
Our Eco Dragons Story So Far
Since launching in the 2023/24 season, Dragons RFC have made several changes here at Rodney Parade to drive our sustainability pledge - installing electric car charging stations, swapping the stadium lighting to LEDs that are timed and sensored, saving on unnecessary energy usage.
We rotated in more ecologically forgiving cleaning products, swapping to recycled paper and toilet paper, and phased in granular fertiliser. New vegan food options were made available across the stadium.
Staff have been engaged to ensure full buy in – even players have been briefed to fully understand the reasons behind it and show how they can help. i.e. Car share. Business changes have seen us look at how we operate across all departments. Nobody is excluded and everyone urged to have an opinion.
We agreed a partnership with Newport Transport to provide free public transport to all members and, using surveys, we have monitored the use of public transport and promote several initiatives to change attitudes and perceptions around travel choices.
And most recently we opened a new Eco Hub and Cycle Storage Unit at Rodney Parade. Following a successful sustainability grant application from Admiral and the Welsh Sports Association, Dragons opened the doors on the hub – made by reusing old storage units - that is available for any sustainability community groups looking to make a positive impact.
This continued commitment is something we are immensely proud of; however the work has not stopped yet as we work alongside Pledgeball and other partners to continue our work towards a green future.
We are excited by the scope and impact of the project so far, but also the way we feel this can grow in the seasons to come. The work has just begun.
What Is Happening At The Lyon Game?
After a successful ‘Christmas Bike Build’ and ‘Bike Drop In’ at the Cycle Hub this Thursday, our good friends at Momentwm are bringing a raft of cyclists to the game to use the Cycle Hub.
Look out for lots of Pledgeball information around the stadium – and your chance to pledge and WIN!
Want To Get involved Further?
We have several exciting plans as part of the Eco Hub, including increasing the biodiversity and greenery in and around Rodney Parade as well as further afield in the local community, including within the homes of fans.
It’s our mission to foster a long-term shift in behaviour and receptivity to sustainability messages amongst the community and fan base of Dragons RFC and the wider Newport city area and Gwent region. We can’t wait to keep building the project. Want to get involved?
If your company would like to support our triple award-winning Eco campaign or discover more about our plans, please email david.watts@dragonsrfc.wales.
It’s easy to feel like our individual actions don’t matter, but when we come together, the effects are immense and far reaching...
