Dragons boss Dean Ryan insists people need to forget the “myth” that the region is receiving any more money to spend on players, amid their latest high-profile signing.
The WRU-owned Gwent outfit have just announced the recruitment of Grand Slam-winning Wales prop Rob Evans following his release from the Scarlets.
He joins fellow Welsh international front rowers Bradley Roberts (Ulster) and Rhodri Jones (Ospreys) in coming on board, while Highlanders centre Sio Tomkinson, Clermont Auvergne utility back JJ Hanrahan, Exeter back-five forward Sean Lonsdale, Bath centre Max Clark and London Irish lock George Nott are further notable signings. The versatile Angus O’Brien also returns from the Scarlets and on-loan Cardiff scrum-half Lewis Jones becomes a permanent addition.
This eye-catching list has provoked a lot of reaction on social media with people asking where the money is coming from and suggesting they must be receiving additional funds from the WRU.
But Ryan has dismissed this out of hand, insisting his budget is not increasing and that it remains the smallest among the four regions. He says more players will be leaving than arriving, with a lengthy list of departures expected to be announced in the coming days.
“We are no different than we were, so we’ve got to balance what we’ve got as a budget and that’s not increased in any shape or form,” said the director of rugby. “So if we invest in more people we’ve got to reduce the head-count we hold. It’s a reality that we’ve got more leaving than are coming in. Sadly there is going to be a lengthy list of departures.
“There is no additional money. People are aware of how the money is and what the differences are between the regions and we are the most challenged. People need to get rid of this myth that that changes in any shape or form.”
Outlining the thinking behind his recruitment drive, Ryan said: “We have to change the quality of the people available to us week-in, week-out. The balance of the squad has to change and is changing. We have to change and to do that we have to change who we recruit.
“I believe we will have better quality available to us more across the year. It’s not easy to recruit for the Dragons, but this process has been a positive.”
On the signing of the 39-cap loosehead Evans, Ryan said: “I am really pleased. Chatting to Rob, he is very ambitious, he still wants to put his hand up and get back into Wales and his enthusiasm for that was tangible in the meeting. To have someone of his quality is a great boost for us. We held the position open optimistically. We gambled a little bit by staying as long as we could and I am delighted that gamble paid off.”
Some have suggested the signing spree leaves the Dragons with no excuses for next season, on the back of a campaign where they have claimed just two victories and haven’t won a single game at home, with one last chance coming up on Saturday afternoon with the visit of the Lions to Rodney Parade.
Ryan responded, saying: “I don’t think we’ve ever had any excuses. We’ve got to allow a time to move forward, we don’t try and deflect from that. My job is to ensure this region goes on a trajectory that can can change the course it’s been on for a long time and this is certainly a step towards doing that.”
