By Mike Dams | 10 June 2010
Chris Kirwan, SWA writes :
HEAD coach Sven Cronk has insisted the young Dragons academy talent joining the Newport ranks will have to produce the goods if they are to wrestle the jerseys from the incumbent Black and Ambers. Next season’s Newport squad will be bolstered by prop Dan Watchurst, back row forwards Rhys Jenkins and James Thomas, half-backs Jonathan Evans and Lewis Robling, and centre/wing Matthew Pewtner. That meant some tough calls had to be made and experienced trio Richard Dale, Ian Evans and Dan Griffiths have all been shown the door.
“There have been no rash decisions and it is not easy to release players who have been fantastic servants to the club,” said Cronk.
“Dan Griffiths is the top points scorer in Newport’s history while Richard Dale and Ian Evans have been brilliant squad members who have never let anyone down. However, we have got to move forward and we have got talented boys from Gwent coming in who we want to help develop. I don’t think anybody has done that as well as us and it was great to see Andrew Coombs doing so well for the Dragons when they needed him at the end of last season. The aim of the Premiership is to help players improve and I think they can do that at Newport, where there is a high level of intensity and also the British and Irish Cup, which is a huge step up.”
Cronk has insisted that nobody is inked in on the teamsheet - including Alex Jones, the lock who is set to take over from number eight Coombs as club captain. The Academy prospects have already cut their teeth in the Premiership for Ebbw Vale, Cross Keys, Pontypool and Bedwas but they will have to produce the goods if they are to claim a starting jersey.
“These boys have got to fight for their places,” said the head coach.
“They are not coming in to be gifted positions. Dan Watchurst is Wales Under-20s captain but he has to try and get in ahead of one of the top Premiership looseheads in Dai Pattison. The same goes in the back row where Rhys Jenkins and James Thomas will have to perform well if they are to play instead of the likes of Sam Waldron and Craig Hill. I think one of our strengths over the past few years has been the competition for places and that is not going to change. Nobody is a certain starter – if Alex Jones’ pre-season form is not what we’d expect it to be then he won’t be leading the side out.”