Dragons say 'elite rugby' must remain in Gwent

Dragons have played at Rodney Parade since 2003

Dragons' owners say elite rugby must remain in Gwent and the side "has every reason to continue proudly in its current form".

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) will present their "optimal solution" concerning the future of the domestic game in the next few days.

This could include the reduction of professional sides from four to three or even two with Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets the four current organisations.

There will then be a six-week consultation period with stakeholders before a final decision is expected by the end of October.

The Welsh sides have been jostling to show why they should survive. Ospreys have unveiled plans to move into a revamped St Helen's in Swansea while Scarlets have revealed new investors.

Cardiff are currently owned by the WRU after going into administration in April but WRU chief executive Abi Tierney recently said "it was hard to see a model where you don't see rugby being played in Cardiff".

What Dragons say

David Wright replaced David Buttress as Dragons chair in July 2024

A Dragons statement was released on behalf of owners David Wright, David Buttress and Hoyoung Huh.

"When we took over the Dragons in 2023 our ambition was clear, we wanted to build a club that could thrive both on and off the field," the statement read.

"That commitment has not changed. With the incredible support of our staff, players, partners and above all our fans we are making progress.

"We have established financial stability and we remain focused on driving forward on field performances.

"In the coming weeks we will take part in the WRU consultation on the future of the game in Wales.

"Our message will be simple and consistent - elite rugby must remain in Gwent and Dragons RFC has every reason to continue proudly in its current form."

Dragons were one of the five Welsh regional sides created in 2003 before it was taken over by the WRU in 2017 after the organisation had suffered financial difficulty.

Dragons returned to private ownership in June 2023 but have been in recent years the worst performing Welsh professional side.

The statement continued: "Like all Welsh fans we also want to see a strong national side, this requires a robust and competitive regional set up.

"We expect the WRU to listen carefully to all feedback during the consultation process and to reflect the views of every stakeholder when shaping its final proposals.

"We have great fans, dedicated staff and players, and fantastic partners. As custodians of Dragons RFC, we'll continue to represent the interests of our entire rugby community."