JACKMAN’S DELIGHT AT EUGENE CROSS RETURN
WALES’ rugby stars are preparing for a must-win clash with Ireland this weekend, but whilst European rugby awaits three more titanic Nat-West Six Nations matches, there’s top flight rugby to get excited about in Blaenau Gwent before the internationals kick off.
The Dragons have travelled north to face Scottish opposition in the Guinness Pro14 at Eugene Cross Park on Friday evening (kick off 7.30pm), with head coach Bernard Jackman hoping his charges put on a show for supporters, old and new.
“We’re delighted to bring a Pro14 game out into our region,” said Jackman. “I see us going up to Ebbw Vale to play as a sign we are more open and less confined.
“We like to think that there are people who will come to that game that potentially haven’t seen us play this season, and it is an opportunity for us to show them how hard we work, how talented we are and how much we want to represent them properly.”
As well as recent memories of the Dragons taking on Glasgow back in pre-season at Ebbw Vale, Jackman recollects being defeated as a player whilst with Connacht at the historic ground, but is determined to leave as victors this time around.
“Obviously we played up there in pre-season,” Jackman added. “We really enjoyed it. It’s a great ground.
“I remember playing there with Connacht in the Challenge Cup on a cold night in December. We got beaten up on the field, but I think we had a few beers with our opponents afterwards – it’s part of the values of pro rugby.
“In August it was just a friendly game, but we will be looking to get a win now to show what we’re about.”
The former Leinster, Connacht and Ireland hooker has settled quickly in south Wales since joining the Dragons back in the summer after the WRU takeover. He’s been quick to be seen and heard out in the region to spearhead the Dragons new pan regional approach, with a series of Q&A events across the region.
“We want to represent every club in the region and every school in the region properly. It is nice I suppose to get out of our traditional home which is Rodney Parade, which we love, but just to get out and make it possible for people who haven’t seen us play before to hopefully come and watch and enjoy a really good game of rugby.”
Along with a number of community and publicity events in the build up, Jackman’s troops begin their preparations on the field at their usual training base at Ystrad Mynach but Bernard has ensured he brings the whole squad up to Ebbw Vale ahead of the league fixture to ensure the team are ready for the conditions.
“Rodney Parade is a grass pitch, but we train on a 4G pitch which is a different, more refined surface, so we want to get up to Ebbw and train up there.
“We did train the same last year before we played and we will do the same again, so children can see the players during halfterm.
“There will be a lot of activities around the area in the lead up to the game to give fans the opportunity to meet the coaches and the players, and for us to meet them and hopefully start to build a relationship and a bit of a connection.
“Every fan in the region is important to us and we are a resource for the region as well. We don’t feel that it is about take take take; it is about us growing the game, us as a resource helping clubs with their coaching, hopefully helping to keep youngsters engaged in the game.”
Despite being international season, there will be a number of Wales, Scotland and international players from around the world on both sides. Jackman knows there’s squad depth in the Scottish capital whilst the Dragons include the likes of Gavin Henson, Tyler Morgan and Leon Brown in their number even after Wales selection.
“Glasgow and Edinburgh are the only two regions feeding into the national side so naturally are more affected, but at the same time because there are only two teams, they have more depth as well.
“Richard Cockerill has done a great job in terms of making them harder to beat, working very hard on their physical conditioning and their physicality. It’s going to be a tough battle, but we can go there confident in our game plan and be good enough to win.”
Dragons v Edinburgh, Friday, February 23, 7.30pm, Eugene Cross Park, Ebbw Vale.