The Dragons have for the last six weeks established a scouting group and the Scouts will begin their scouting remits around the Region from this weekend. For the past month the Scouts have been completing their induction process by viewing Regional Age Grade and School District games and are now ready to view players who can, depending on age and ability, filter either into:
- Dragons School District Squads
- Dragons Regional Age Grade Squads
- Dragons Championship Squads
- Dragons Premiership Squads
- Dragons Academy
The Scouts that have been selected will cover, but will not be limited to, the following areas:
- Steve Jones, Newport
- Joe Crocker, Chepstow / Monmouth
- Leighton Tovey, Islwyn
- Ceri Johnathan, Rhymney Valley
- Richard Brown, Caerphilly
- Jeremy McCarthy, Blaenau Gwent
- Gareth Donovan, Torfaen
Will Thomas, Dragons Academy Manager, commented 'we have tried to close as money holes as possible in our identification system over the past three years by widening our base at Under 15s and Under 16s. However, there are always instances of players slipping through the net at an age grade level, with Toby Faletau being a prime example and not being picked up until he was 18. We have now established a Scouting system to find the late developers and late newcomers to the sport in the Region with a view to filtering them into the most appropriate level for their abilities.'
If any club or school coaches would like the Dragons Scouts to view a specific player or a team that you feel has been overlooked, please contact Will Thomas in the first instance by email on wthomas@wru.co.uk with the players Name, Team, position and date of birth.
The Dragons will in the forthcoming months also be establishing a Welsh Exiles Scouting Group to cover Welsh qualified players currently living in England and abroad.
