Dragons v Northampton at EXP

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Malpas69
Posts: 1659
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 12:56
Location: Ebbw Vale exile living in N*****t

Dragons v Northampton at EXP

Post by Malpas69 »

From today's South Wales Andrex:

Dragons set to host Saints in Ebbw Vale

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are set to play English champions Northampton in Ebbw Vale because of Barack Obama and his fellow world leaders. The Dragons have agreed a home pre-season friendly against the Saints, who won their first Aviva Premiership title last season, on Friday, August 29. However, they will not be playing the game at Rodney Parade due to security measures in Newport ahead of the Nato summit at the Celtic Manor the following week. The situation enables the Dragons to play a major game outside of the city for the first time since August 2003 and the likely destination is Eugene Cross Park.

The region have previously investigated the possibility of playing an LV= Cup game at the home of the Steelmen. Administration issues, such as the lack of hospitality boxes, the small number of seats in the grandstand and the need to notify season ticket holders before they made their purchase, prevented them from playing a competitive game away from Rodney Parade but there are no such problems for a friendly encounter.

And Ebbw Vale look set to strike gold with the Dragons' clash against Northampton, who won the Premiership and the Amlin Challenge Cup last season and boast the likes of George North, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Luther Burrell and Samu Manoa in their ranks.

The Dragons' first game on Welsh soil was a pre-season friendly against Leeds at Pontypool Park in 2003 and they enjoyed a trio of encounters with Gwent Select XVs at Cross Keys' Pandy Park.

An added bonus of hosting the Saints at Eugene Cross Park is that there will be less strain on the Rodney Parade pitch, which is also home to Newport RFC and Newport County. The Northampton game will be the Dragons' second pre-season friendly with Bristol their opponents at Ashton Gate on Sunday, August 17 (kick-off 3pm).

Director of rugby Lyn Jones, who was appointed last June, bemoaned the region's poor preparation for 2013/14 when their home friendly against Bath was their solitary warm-up for the Pro12.
Crime in multi-storey car parks - that is just wrong on so many different levels!!
Slugs
Posts: 93
Joined: 17 Oct 2009 20:28

Re: Dragons v Northampton at EXP

Post by Slugs »

Always thought that Ebbw could never use the pitch during August. But its OK for the Dragons?
Stevey
Posts: 865
Joined: 24 Nov 2008 03:49
Location: Ebbw 60 years

Re: Dragons v Northampton at EXP

Post by Stevey »

Slugs wrote:Always thought that Ebbw could never use the pitch during August. But its OK for the Dragons?
Let's not knock it, it could help us financially, seems we don't have too many contributing what's needed so this is welcome in my eyes.....if it happens.
String
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Joined: 26 Feb 2005 02:36
Location: Cayman Islands
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Re: Dragons v Northampton at EXP

Post by String »

Wonder what's the biggest size Northampton banner you can buy. That'd look nice trailed across the entire roof of the stand.

Really not comfortable with the club condoning the existance of n******t given what they've done and what they continue to do to what was supposed to be a region.
Stevey
Posts: 865
Joined: 24 Nov 2008 03:49
Location: Ebbw 60 years

Re: Dragons v Northampton at EXP

Post by Stevey »

String wrote:Wonder what's the biggest size Northampton banner you can buy. That'd look nice trailed across the entire roof of the stand.

Really not comfortable with the club condoning the existance of n******t given what they've done and what they continue to do to what was supposed to be a region.
I think all clubs but an exception of a few believe the "region" experiment has run it's course and is a total failure, just to look at the half full (if that) stands shows this. Having said that, we can do nothing to change it, we are where we are, and don't have to buy into a failed concept. Pontypridd have gone along their merry way and have prospered and are the epitome of where we need to be. If we get help from the Dragons it would be ridiculous to turn it away, although I doubt we will get any and this fixture is to help them more than us. I was hoping Kingsley and Lyn Jones would be an advantage to Ebbw but we never even get a mention from them in the media, which would help to keep our profile enhanced.
Let's be as professional as we can, support our club as best we can and do whatever we can, irrespective how large or small, to see Ebbw prosper on and off the field. There are some working for no monetary reward whatsoever day in day out to achieve this and any help from anyone is always welcome.
PLEASE FORM AN ORDERLY QUEUE.
String
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Joined: 26 Feb 2005 02:36
Location: Cayman Islands
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Re: Dragons v Northampton at EXP

Post by String »

Supporting the *club* is what it's all about. I have never and will never support n*****t no matter where they play.

We've had dubious offers of "help" off them before and quite a lot seems to be us helping them with nothing in return.
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