Dragons owners say ‘elite rugby’ must stay in Gwent
Dragons owners say ‘elite rugby’ must stay in Gwent
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Dragons’ owners have insisted that top-level rugby must remain in Gwent, stressing that the club is well-placed to continue in its present form.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is preparing to reveal its “optimal solution” for the domestic game in the coming days. Proposals are expected to explore reducing the number of professional teams, potentially cutting from the current four of Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets, to three or even two.
Once the plan is published, a six-week consultation will take place with stakeholders, leading to a final decision anticipated by the end of October.
Each region has been putting forward its case for survival. The Ospreys have outlined plans to relocate to a redeveloped St Helen’s in Swansea, while the Scarlets have secured new investment. Cardiff, currently under WRU ownership after entering administration in April, appear relatively secure, with chief executive Abi Tierney noting that it was “hard to see a model where you don’t see rugby being played in Cardiff.”
In response, the Dragons issued a statement from their owners David Wright, David Buttress, and Hoyoung Huh:
“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. With the incredible support of our staff, players, partners and above all our fans we are making real progress. We have established financial stability and we remain fully focused on driving forward on field performances.
“In the coming weeks we will take part in the WRU consultation on the future of the game in Wales. Our message will be simple and consistent – elite rugby must stay in Gwent, and Dragons RFC has every reason to continue proudly in its current form.”
Formed in 2003 as one of Wales’ five regional teams, the Dragons were taken over by the WRU in 2017 following financial struggles, before returning to private ownership in June 2023. Despite this, they have endured the weakest results of the Welsh professional sides in recent years.
The statement concluded: “Like all Welsh fans we also want to see a strong national side; this requires a robust and competitive regional set up.
“We expect the WRU to listen carefully to all feedback during the consultation process and to reflect the views of every stakeholder when shaping its final proposals.
“We have great fans, dedicated staff and players, and fantastic partners. As custodians of Dragons RFC, we’ll continue to represent the interests of our entire rugby community.”
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