Darren Edwards: We back our young hookers

10:00am Wednesday 6th February 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Chris Kirwan

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons head coach Darren Edwards says the decision to not offer a deal to Gerwyn Price was down to the development of the region’s young hookers.

Price has joined Glasgow’s bid for the RaboDirect Pro12 title after signing from Cross Keys until the end of the season.

It has led to frustration at Pandy Park that one of the best players in the Premiership has had to leave the country for a professional contract.

Edwards insists they had a good look at the 27-year-old from Markham but felt they needed to back their current crop.

“I wish Gerwyn luck, his ambition was always to be a professional rugby player and I am pleased for him,” he said.

“We looked at him seriously and had him in with us over the summer, then continued to monitor him at Cross Keys in the Premiership.

“But we made the decision to back the potential of our two young hookers Sam Parry and Hugh Gustafson.

“They’ve got Elliot Dee behind them and he was one of the stand-out performers for Wales Under-20s last week, so we are confident that we have got a good set of hookers that are going to come through.”

Comments(8)

Risca1 says...
4:05pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Rugby is about opinions, however you cannot put Gustafson in the same league as Price as a hooker. Bad mistake.

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rhinestine says...
4:31pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Gustafson should have stayed at loose head, he was fine there, I don't know why he has moved to hooker?

But he was under contract, so they had to do something with him. There is not enough room at the table for everyone, plenty of good players deserve a chance but never get one!

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Risca1 says...
4:45pm Wed 6 Feb 13

rhinestine wrote:
Gustafson should have stayed at loose head, he was fine there, I don't know why he has moved to hooker?

But he was under contract, so they had to do something with him. There is not enough room at the table for everyone, plenty of good players deserve a chance but never get one!
So it is not a rugby decision - more of a financial one?

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Robert Shillabeer says...
6:10pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Risca1 wrote:
rhinestine wrote:
Gustafson should have stayed at loose head, he was fine there, I don't know why he has moved to hooker?

But he was under contract, so they had to do something with him. There is not enough room at the table for everyone, plenty of good players deserve a chance but never get one!
So it is not a rugby decision - more of a financial one?
Of course it's a financial one, he can play in both positions if it becomes really necessary. Hooker is the first choice though and he is now quite accomplished at it and will get better. Price has gone on a short term contract until the end of the season and who knows he may well come back to a Welsh region for next year.

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kalwales@hotmail.com says...
6:45pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Oh Darren you know how to cheer me up :-)

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Risca1 says...
7:26pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Robert Shillabeer wrote:
Risca1 wrote:
rhinestine wrote:
Gustafson should have stayed at loose head, he was fine there, I don't know why he has moved to hooker?

But he was under contract, so they had to do something with him. There is not enough room at the table for everyone, plenty of good players deserve a chance but never get one!
So it is not a rugby decision - more of a financial one?
Of course it's a financial one, he can play in both positions if it becomes really necessary. Hooker is the first choice though and he is now quite accomplished at it and will get better. Price has gone on a short term contract until the end of the season and who knows he may well come back to a Welsh region for next year.
The fact that he can play 2 positions is great. However, hooker is a pivotal part of a team and a specialist role. The number of times Hugh has thrown the ball in straight can be counted on one hand. Decent loose head but not a consistent regional hooker. Too many points lost by bringing him on. Give premiership players their head - short memories come to mind of Coombs and Burnsy when given a chance.

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dragons boy says...
8:29pm Wed 6 Feb 13

We will find out shortly if it was one that got away?

Next week Dragons v Glasgow.

I guess many will be watching this result with interest and a few perhaps under a bit of pressure.

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risca dragons says...
9:40pm Wed 6 Feb 13

I'm sorry this is a big cop out- yet another mistake you and the so called coaches have made.you have a good player on the doorstep and you ignore him! We need as much of the Gwent talent to stay in Gwent. I'm waiting for the next announcement that Steffan is leaving for elsewhere cause you believe robling needs to play rubbish week in and week out!

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