Dragons: WRU receives fresh bid for region to return to private ownership

Dragons and Newport County Football Club play at Rodney Parade

An official bid has been made by Welsh rugby region Dragons to return to private ownership.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) took over the Newport-based team and its Rodney Parade home in 2017 to keep it alive.

Chairman and businessman David Buttress has since aimed to return Dragons to private ownership and is again behind the latest bid.

In September 2020 he admitted the coronavirus pandemic had delayed progress on that ambition.

But those hopes have gained fresh impetus.

Financial constraints brought about by Covid-19 have affected all four of Wales' regions.

Optimism over the futures of Dragons, Cardiff Blues, Scarlets and Ospreys is growing behind the scenes, prompting Wales' eastern-most professional team to submit the formal bid to the WRU.

Dragons director of rugby and board member Dean Ryan confirmed the news.

"This will be a big moment for the region," said Ryan.

"The situation the region got itself into to be taken by the governing body in the first place was a low moment and we are trying to bring something positive.

"It is very important. I don't think the news is a surprise but the fact is things are moving, there is a bid on the table and David is leading on that.

"We want to have more control in taking the direction of the region and secure what the next few years will look like and continue to improve the business.

"There are lots of things at play but we are driving the pace saying what we want to do. It's exciting and why I came to the club was to be involved in shaping the direction from a rugby perspective.

"I think you can see that happening and hopefully we can take more control off the field and build a plan going forward.

"It is not a thing you put a timescale on but we have had motivation to do this for some time. It's got a stage where it has become a bit more formal."