Gavin Henson is to pitch up at the Newport Gwent Dragons, with the region also in negotiations to be taken over by the WRU. Robin Davey says both are positive signs and argues the alternative is debt and the demolition men.
Suddenly, it’s all happening at Newport Gwent Dragons.
The galvanising effect the very name of Gavin Henson still has was perfectly illustrated when within hours of announcing his signing the Dragons received more publicity than they have in years.
For season after season, they have languished as the lowest of the four regions and in the Pro 12 only the hapless Italians finish below them.
They have regularly been labelled the basket case of Welsh rugby, almost beyond hope, sinking into the abyss with their very survival called into question.
Some have suggested they be allowed to go under while others have called for them to be transferred up to North Wales or be turned into a development region.
But in the background things have been stirring. The Dragons will not be allowed to die and an anxious WRU have stepped in.
In fact, talks have been going on for some time with lawyers and accountants from both sides heavily involved.
Now, a full blown WRU takeover is in the offing and a shareholders meeting of Newport RFC is due soon when a 75% majority is needed for the plan to go through.
Newport would lose control of Rodney Parade which diehards are understandably concerned about and there is only a guarantee of ten years at rugby at Rodney Parade.
But the alternative is worse – basically, oblivion. The ground would be sold off to pay off debts and the stadium would become a building site.
As it stands, if the WRU takeover bid goes through then major directors Tony Brown and Martyn Hazell will not call in their debts which amount to millions.
But if, on the other hand, the shareholders reject moves then the ground becomes a development site with the directors calling in their loans.
The signs are promising that it will all go through. At the end of the day, it’s the only realistic hope for the Dragons. I would go so far as to say their very survival depends on it, and much the same can be said for Newport.
All parties are keen for the current teams at RP to remain where they are, the major change being a complete switch of ownership.
Assuming the development does happen soon then imagine the effect Henson will have on season ticket sales, for example, on top of the arrival of South African Zane Kirchner.
Both will play a leading role in bringing on a host of promising young backs at the Dragons – Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt plus some emerging Wales Under-20 backs.
And the Dragons would have their full playing budget of £3.5m rather than the paltry £2.4m they currently spend. So, the prospect of further squad strengthening must be on the horizon.
The Dragons would instantly be stabilised off the field, the organisation stronger, and then there is the real possibility of investors, said to be waiting in the wings, coming on board.
The pitch remains an issue, but if Newport County drop out of the Football League an artificial pitch could be installed.
And ready to take centre stage is the pending arrival of Henson, an unfulfilled talent if ever there was one. Winner of 33 senior Wales caps for sure, but it could have been double that if injuries and some wayward behaviour had not intervened.
But Henson is keen to return to Wales and accept a mentoring role with those youngsters. Success-starved Dragons fans already can’t wait for all the changes to happen and – like the Tanned One – possibly even gain a place in the sun themselves.
