KEV KICKS OFF

THE big news this week has been the WRU taking over the Newport Gwent Dragons which I think is good for Welsh rugby as we need four strong regions and we’ve only had three the last few years. They’ve signed Gavin Henson who’s still doing the business in the Aviva Premiership with Bristol but they’ve got to clear a majority of the squad and recruit and start to be competitive again. First on the agenda is getting a 4G pitch and secondly is move Newport County somewhere else. Rodney Parade is a rugby ground!

It wasn’t a good weekend for our regions. Only the Scarlets had a win, beating Edinburgh 26-10 at home but they didn’t score a point in the second half which was frustrating. The Dragons lost at home to Ulster, making that eight losses in a row. I think Kingsley Jones can’t wait till the end of season.

The shock was the Ospreys losing in Treviso. They were abysmal in every department and I’m sure Steve Tandy will tell them they need to shape up or they will be on their way out. Cardiff Blues gave Leinster a good game in Dublin but lost 22-21. They played some great rugby and should be confident going into their European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Gloucester.

Congratulations to RGC 1404 and local boy Evan Yardley on getting to the national cup final. They beat big spenders Merthyr with a last-minute try and deserved to be there after a great season. I couldn’t believe the WRU picked Pontypridd as a neutral venue for a semi-final. Merthyr travelled 20 minutes and RGC travelled four hours. They meet massive favourites Pontypridd, who beat Cross Keys in a high scoring game at Aberavon. It should be a fantastic final. QUESTION: What do you think of Warren Gatland’s quotes about the Lons captaincy?

It’s very interesting now as Gatland has said his captain has got to be a definite starter and world class – Dylan Hartley and Rory Best are not, Alun Wyn Jones and Greig Laidlaw are injured. That leaves, in my eyes, Sam Warburton or Owen Farrell and I go with Warburton for his experience.