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United Rugby Championship

In demand Wales flanker Taine Basham commits to Dragons

By Josh Raisey

225 days ago

Wales' flanker Taine Basham throws the ball during the captain's run at la Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes, western France, on October 6, 2023, on the eve of the World Cup 2023 match between Wales and Georgia. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP) (Photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)

The Dragons have fought off any competition from the Gallagher Premiership to re-sign Wales flanker Taine Basham.

RugbyPass’ Neil Fissler reported in February that the 24-year-old was at the centre of a tug-of-war between Premiership champions Saracens and the Dragons with his contract at Rodney Parade ending at the end of the season.

The United Rugby Championship outfit have come out on top though, keeping hold of their academy product.

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The Toughest Sport on Earth – Big Jim Show | RPTV

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The lure of representing Wales would have contributed to Basham’s decision. The flanker earned his 17th and most recent cap in the Guinness Six Nations against England, which means a move to the Premiership would have rendered him ineligible to be selected by Warren Gatland as he falls under the 25-cap threshold to play abroad.

Basham has made 89 appearances for the region since making his debut and 2018 and is relishing making his century.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Benetton

36 - 19

Full-time

Dragons RFC

All Stats and Data

“I’m really happy to sign a new contract with my home club,” Basham said after signing.

“As a Gwent boy, it means a massive amount to me every time I pull on the jersey.

“I now look forward with excitement to playing more for the Dragons, and hopefully a reaching a century of appearances for the club.

“My thanks go to our fantastic fans for their continued support for me. I can’t wait to get back out on the field at Rodney Parade and finish this final block of the season really strongly.”

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan added: “We want to keep our best homegrown talent in Gwent, so news that Taine has agreed a new contract will rightly be celebrated by all our supporters.

“Taine joins the likes of Aaron and Rio in agreeing fresh terms and we look forward to continuing to watch important international players make a big impact and be key figures for us.

“It has always meant a huge amount to Taine to play for Dragons, he is passionate about our club, and it has been great to see him show his very best form in recent games.

“Now his future is resolved, we look forward to Taine finishing this season strongly and building on his successful career with us.”

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 5 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You're outta here!

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 5 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Yellow for you. Timeout.

Low risk of danger, so there won't be a bunker review.

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 10 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

LOL. Tinfoil meet head.

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 19 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.

I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.

So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 27 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.

He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.

He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N. Reading his drivel in between extended periods of alcohol and mince pie consumption, and low grade depression related to the lack of international rugby. Leading to more alcohol and mince pies.

22 Go to comments

Chesterfield 29 minutes ago

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments

Arnold 32 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments

Reader76 50 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."

Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

22 Go to comments

CM 54 minutes ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

1 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 55 minutes ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.

Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

30 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

289 Go to comments

Ninjin 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments