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Dragons confirm nine departures, including exit of Sio Tomkinson

Dragons' Sio Tomkinson (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

United Rugby Championship strugglers Dragons have confirmed the names of the nine players leaving Rodney Parade at the end of the season.

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The list includes Sio Tomkinson, their 2022 Super Rugby Pacific signing, and Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou, a starter for his country in last October’s Rugby World Cup semi-final versus New Zealand.

A statement read: “Dragons can confirm that nine players will leave at the end of the 2023/24 season. Popular front row Aki Seiuli, who brought up his 50th appearance for the club recently against Benetton, will depart at the end of the current season.

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    Rugby Championship U20s: New Zealand v Argentina Highlights

    Catch up on matchday two highlights from the inaugural Rugby Championship U20s, with New Zealand vs Argentina from the Sunshine Coast in Australia.

    “He is joined by back row Sean Lonsdale, who made 37 appearances in two seasons, and centre Sio Tomkinson, who has played 21 games in all competitions across two seasons.

    “Argentine scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou (30 appearances) and centre Max Clark (15 appearances), both of whom spent time this season on loan with Cardiff, also come to the end of their time with the Men of Gwent.

    “Scrum-half Lewis Jones (26 appearances) also leaves us after three seasons. Wing Corey Baldwin (seven appearances) takes up a playing opportunity in Australia. Senior academy player Nathan Evans, who made his senior debut earlier this season against Munster, also leaves with our best wishes.

    “This group join Jack Dixon who left Dragons RFC earlier this season when he retired from professional rugby to pursue new opportunities outside of sport.”

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    Head coach Dai Flanagan said: “It’s always a difficult time of any season when players depart, and we thank them all for their commitment and dedication during their time with us.

    “Every single player has had a role to play for us and we wish them all every success for the future and look forward to welcoming them back to Rodney Parade soon.”

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    J
    JW 7 minutes ago
    Super Rugby Pacific has turned the ship around in the right direction

    LOL thats the same mentality the French saying about the Top 14. Why change their ridiculous comp if its performing well with investors?


    There is always better JWH.


    It depends really what you want out of Super Rugby and NPC. Currently Super Rugby fills both niche’s, it has the up and commers as well as the stars performing at the top. Reducing further obviously improves further on what has been the reason everybody is enjoying this season.


    There is definitely a question of balance and what going further that way removes. But theres a few reasons. What coaches are telling us is it is also a struggle to find the talent to fill out a strong SR side. There is talk of increasing financial constraints. Currently there is a lopsided (random) amount of derby home and away match ups in each conference, so going 5v5 instead of 6v6 may mean we have a full derby round for each conference (currently I think they play just 3 teams twice), or even squeeze in a full dbl round comp. Going a larger number of teams means they need to go much larger to fairer league setup.


    But they need to add or remove JWH, one or the other, and I was merely pointing out that adding, like you’re suggestion, is likely going to introduce just what we all (or at least what the person I was replying to was saying) think the comp has been remedied of, having a weak team. The 5v5 I referenced was 3 Aus teams, with the other two filling the landscape their, and 5 here. That’s what NZR wanted to kick off for the COVID year but ARU threw a hissy fit. If going to 10 is the right thing to do maybe it’s an NZ team that needs to be dropped, so Moana would remain here and Drua continue to be with the aussies, thats the other possible 5 v 5 setup (which would just be 10 if they found a way for all to play even games).

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