Dragons can be URC's surprise package - MacLeod

Dragons coach Dale MacLeod worked with boss Filo Tiatia at Moana Pasifika

Dale MacLeod was in the stands when Dragons were thumped 48-12 by Stormers in May on their way to finishing bottom of the United Rugby Championship (URC), yet he saw enough to believe they can target the play-offs in the coming campaign.

The experienced New Zealander joined Filo Tiatia's management team as defence coach this summer to work with a new-look squad.

A horrendous 2024-25, when injuries hit hard and Dragons finished bottom of the URC for the first time, led to 14 senior signings being made.

Optimism for the coming campaign may have been dented by uncertainty over the future of professional club rugby, but Dragons fully intend to provide more on-field cheer.

Ambitious play-off target

The Dragons lost 48-12 to the Stormers in front of new coach Dale MacLeod

Dragons, who kick off at Ulster on Friday (20:05 BST), will hope to change the record when playing four of their first six URC games in Newport.

The only way is up, and MacLeod sees no reason why they shouldn't set lofty targets.

"We haven't talked too much about what lies ahead but, if I am being me, we are going to qualify for the top eight," said the New Zealander, despite Dragons finishing 39 points behind eighth-placed Scarlets last season.

"I believe if you look at some of the games that were lost last year, they were in a position to win them and it was inexperience or injuries [that cost them].

"We have been very diligent around workloads and making sure we are not breaking boys, the medical team are doing a great job and Filo is leading the off-field stuff really well.

"We've got a really good plan and are really focused on where we want to get to.

"If we show the growth we have shown in the last month then I am confident that we can do something that will surprise a few people."

Dragons spent most of last season without a specialist defence coach after Tiatia was promoted to the top job when Dai Flanagan left in November.

MacLeod was confirmed as their new man at the start of May and went to watch his future team in South Africa in their penultimate game of a draining campaign.

Dragons, predictably, suffered defeat to Stormers in Cape Town when the hosts ran in three of their seven tries in the closing stages.

"Even if they didn't get a result, I could see that they had a lot of intent and I am massive on a thing called 'MEE' - Mindset, Effort, Energy," said MacLeod.

"I would never question what I have seen in pre-season, we just have to play a bit smarter and change a few things.

"The boys are really coachable and want to get better. They work hard every day, so I can't ask for much more and I am excited about it."

Homegrown talent

Huw Anderson scored four tries for Dragons in 2024-25

Dragons were stretched by injuries throughout last season and the hope is that the likes of talented full-back Huw Anderson, flanker Ryan Woodman and hooker Brodie Coghlan can push on to supplement the new recruits.

MacLeod said: "You can only get better if you are put into the fire and you get to experience it. Going to South Africa, you really experience it.

"It was tough at the time but what I liked about the boys was that I never felt anyone lay down and gave up.

"That's a positive sign and I can work with that, while we have got some really good boys who have come in who have shown me they care about the jersey they are going to be putting on.

"If we can get that going, I have no doubt we will be a different beast."

Dragons chief executive Rhys Blumberg promised fans at a Q&A in February that the club would bring in an experienced defence specialist to join Tiatia's staff.

MacLeod fits the bill after a long coaching career featuring Tonga at the 2023 World Cup, Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby and most recently Northland in New Zealand's NPC.

He is "living the dream" by coaching in Europe and will get to tick items of his bucket list after moving to Wales with wife Kelly - following the All Blacks on their autumn tour and Six Nations fixtures are in the diary.

Describing himself as an "encouraging, inclusive" coach, he aims to bring the best out of the players and help Tiatia and fellow assistants Matt O'Brien, Sam Hobbs and Dan Lydiate to get their points across.

"I've coached with Filo before, so I really enjoy how he goes about things," said MacLeod, who linked up with his boss at the Pasifika.

"We worked really well together and a coaching relationship is pretty powerful.

"I knew I was coming into a young coaching group and that excited me, coming in and being able to share because I am at the other end of the spectrum."

The Dragons have been the URC's busiest side in the transfer market yet they hope their coaching arrival can help unlock serious progress.