Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Dragons' 38-word statement officially confirms Dean Ryan's exit

(Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Dragons, the Newport-based URC franchise, have finally officially confirmed the departure of Dean Ryan nearly four months after the director of rugby’s sacking was first reported by RugbyPass. It was September 23, just days after the club had conceded seven tries against Edinburgh in its first outing of the 2022/23 season, when this website exclusively reported that the ex-England back-rower had been absent from training in the second week of the URC campaign and that he had been informed of his dismissal that Friday morning.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bad-tempered assessments by Ryan of the Dragons players had become a regular feature during the club’s dire 2021/22 season and the DoR didn’t shy away from explaining his unhappiness following their 6-44 September 17 URC round one walloping in Scotland.

“We have got supposed talent in this squad, but I don’t see it at the moment,” said Ryan at the time. “I don’t see the work rate that was needed or the desire to be in the right position. We need to hold some hard conversations about how that can happen in the first game of the season.”

Video Spacer

Being Barbarians – Rugby Documentary

Our new rugby documentary follows Scott Robertson and Ronan O’Gara in a brand new saga following the Barbarians rugby team, one of the most famous sides in the world. In this clash, they take on New Zealand XV.

Video Spacer

Being Barbarians – Rugby Documentary

Our new rugby documentary follows Scott Robertson and Ronan O’Gara in a brand new saga following the Barbarians rugby team, one of the most famous sides in the world. In this clash, they take on New Zealand XV.

Head coach Dai Flanagan took over the running of the Dragons side in Ryan’s absence and they won three of their ten URC games since then while they also drew away to the Lions in one of their two Challenge Cup matches.

In that time, Dragons maintained their silence over Ryan due to the dismissal becoming a legal matter and the situation was only finally resolved on Tuesday, 14 and a half weeks after the initial parting of the ways last September.

Related

A 38-word statement read: “Dragons RFC confirm the departure of Dean Ryan. Ryan has been director of rugby at Rodney Parade since May 2019. Dragons RFC chairman David Buttress said: ‘We thank Dean for his contribution and wish him every future success’.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JWH 39 minutes ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Interesting take, crazy to see the amount of delulu NZ fans here. I am an NZ fan, but this is atrocious.


I am fine with 75%+, in fact I think that is excellent, but the main point of anguish is not IF we win or lose, it is how. I think that Razor has finally got us playing to our identity again; flowing, simple, and brutally decisive & efficient.


There are certainly some issues that the stats reflect, like the scrum and lineout. However, at scrum time, there isn't really much variation, in terms of attack, you can put on that. So at the end of the day, not much to do differently apart from 'scrum better'.


However, the lineout is quite interesting. As Ryan said earlier this week, the ABs have added a lot of depth and combinations to their lineout, with FOUR lineout options (Barrett, Vaai, Savea, Sititi). While they did only retain 80% possession from lineouts (not great), the stat line is actually 12/15, which is pretty good, considering Aumua did all those lineout with limited experience and tiredness after playing 75 minutes at Twickenham.


There are also some really good stats to back up the ABs. They managed to stay out of their own 22 for a lot of the game, however they also didn't set up camp in the opp 22 often either. They are also passing the ball a lot, clocking in at 211 passes, double that of England. These stats show a return to attacking, flowing rugby, and not playing your own 22, which is the ABs style.


What I think Razor wants to do is make effective use of draw and pass, simple rugby. This can be pre or post contact, but you have to draw more than 1 player. For example, that Sititi offload to Telea, or BB to Jordan. Those were excellent, yet overall simple passages of rugby This can be risky at times (just watch DMac play), but it is a medium risk high reward gameplan.


What we Kiwis want is exciting rugby. We want hard defense, big hits, cool plays, and quick linebreaks. I cannot imagine being an SA fan between 2018-2021, which was one of the most boring rugby teams of all time (respectfully). I also cannot imagine being an England fan right now, so dull. But the ABs are making rugby exciting again, playing like Scotland and Fiji, but better.

42 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
Search