Dragons in approach to Kingsley Jones

6:00am Thursday 21st February 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author Exclusive By Chris Kirwan

ON THE WAY? Kingsley Jones ON THE WAY? Kingsley Jones

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have sounded out Kingsley Jones about him heading up the coaching team at Rodney Parade.

Last Friday the region suffered a 60-3 home drubbing at the hands of Glasgow – their worst ever defeat and the heaviest home loss in RaboDirect Pro12 history.

It has prompted calls to change the coaching team with director of rugby Robert Beale, head coach Darren Edwards and his assistant Rob Appleyard in the firing line.

On Monday chairman Martyn Hazell said there would be no rash decisions, stating: “We have got to stand firm – it’s too far into the season and I can’t see what good changes would do.”

But on Tuesday he said: “We have to go through it with the coaches and see what they think is the problem, or they may be the problem anyhow.”

With the coaching staff under contract, sweeping changes are costly and unlikely.

However, the Argus understands that former Sale boss Jones, who is currently coaching Russia and working as a technical advisor with London Welsh, has been approached by the Dragons.

They have looked at the possibility of bringing him in with forwards and defence coach Appleyard heading for the exit.

Nothing is likely to change before this weekend and the current coaching team will be in charge for Sunday’s must-win Pro12 clash against Zebre.

The Italians have lost all of their games this season and if they were to break their duck then it would undoubtedly speed up any potential backroom changes.

Edwards expects scrutiny following last week’s humbling but says that the coaching staff are just focused on the job at hand.

“As coaches we are just concentrating on the players and looking for a reaction from them to Glasgow. Whatever else happens will be,” he said.

“We didn’t see what happened last week coming, I don’t think anyone did.

“We had been building since Christmas and had won our previous three games, while those that we lost were tight.

“Glasgow came out of the blue and it was a sucker punch, the worst experience of my career both as a player and coach.

“It’s a collective thing – it’s a problem for all of us and we have just got to work through the situation as a group.

“That sort of a defeat can’t be brushed under the carpet and nobody here expects that, but we do need to react to it on Sunday.”

Comments(20)

Euwan Usami says...
8:04am Thu 21 Feb 13

Perhaps the message has got through at last? An effective way of saving money would be to avoid the fans leaving in droves surely. Now we need some forwards please.

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SWBorderer says...
8:05am Thu 21 Feb 13

Darren says he didn't see a drubbing coming and neither did anyone else, he can't be reading any of the comments on here then because plenty of people on here saw it coming.

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portforever says...
8:43am Thu 21 Feb 13

best coach on the world could not get this lot of headless chickens playing at any decent level.contracts will have to be paid up, can board afford it,, then get jones ,then recruit a 5 forwards and a few backs and its all rosy again. zebra win may be good in the long term, and will force board to do what needs doing to make the dragons a force again,,,

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speakoutnow says...
9:08am Thu 21 Feb 13

Sorry portforever whilst I do agree that some of the players in the squad are out of their depth, I must point out that many of them were brought in by the current coaching/management set up so they bear responsibility for that.
Additionally, and I have made this point many times, the TEAM (and therefore the players) are simply poorly coached.
The game plan , such as it is, is poor and they continue to make basic errors which can be directly attributed to the coaching they receive/ or in fact don't receive.
Players technique is often poor and obviously not addressed by the coaches.
SO,yes, blame the players for their part in the last disaster but don't let their "performance" detract from the MASSIVE impact the coaches have had and will still have on the TEAM.

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Dai Trying says...
9:13am Thu 21 Feb 13

Eureeka!!!

I just wonder how much fact this article contains or is it just wishful thinking. I am just a little scepticle about reports that state " the Argus UNDERSTANDS that former Sale boss Jones, who is currently coaching Russia and working as a technical advisor with London Welsh, has been approached by the Dragons " We shall see !!!!

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broadsworddan says...
9:32am Thu 21 Feb 13

Similar to the Andy Goode story. I'm sure the Dragons are interested in employing him if he's prepared to accept minimum wage.

The board's long term caution has put the Dragons in a corner which they have to spend their way out of.

The season ticket sales will be the worst they have ever been and we won't survive to see another "grow your own" squad experiment fail like this one has.

It's spend or die time! very sad!

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high x boy says...
10:17am Thu 21 Feb 13

the coaches are on another planet it seems.

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saltheartfoamfollower says...
10:35am Thu 21 Feb 13

AAH LAY LOO YAAAR!!!
The redeemer cometh.Technical director of London Welsh no less,some CV entry that.Unwanted by any aviva premier or first div..side scoots off to Russia to become Komrad Jones and changes Russian Rugby such that they are now a major force in world rugby.Just what's needed at the dragons,another waste of money when what is really needed is a playmaker of quality at10 and a couple of hard headed forwards with plenty of bottle.
I wont hold my breath.

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gwentfan says...
2:41pm Thu 21 Feb 13

saltheartfoamfollowe
r

why not hold your breath.?

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portforever says...
3:07pm Thu 21 Feb 13

i dont know if the dragons board have the money to invest in the team, maybe someone on this forum knows.no disrespect to the present sponser but dragons also need a bigger, better knows company with a bigger budget but i guess that depends on the performance on the field.not sure jones is the right person but at least it shows some ambition. the players cant have any time for de anymore and he needs to go or step down to a lower level in the side, i do feel sorry for the guy as am sure he is doing the best he can.

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cdfdragon says...
4:10pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Will believe this when I see it! I'm sure there'll be an article sometime next week telling us it's all fallen through.

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East Newport Dave says...
4:12pm Thu 21 Feb 13

“We didn’t see what happened last week coming, I don’t think anyone did.'

I saw it coming and I can see another 60-70 pointer before the season is out. If the Dragons need to lose v Zebre on the weekend to facilitate the exit of Edwards and Beale, then so be it.

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DragonsEye says...
8:00pm Thu 21 Feb 13

high x boy wrote:
the coaches are on another planet it seems.
I think it's more like 'We wish the coaches were on another planet'

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The People's Republic of Newp says...
9:30pm Thu 21 Feb 13

portforever wrote:
i dont know if the dragons board have the money to invest in the team, maybe someone on this forum knows.no disrespect to the present sponser but dragons also need a bigger, better knows company with a bigger budget but i guess that depends on the performance on the field.not sure jones is the right person but at least it shows some ambition. the players cant have any time for de anymore and he needs to go or step down to a lower level in the side, i do feel sorry for the guy as am sure he is doing the best he can.
Securing new investment depends more on the WRU relinquishing their 'interest' more than anything else.

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Robert Shillabeer says...
5:45pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Robin Davey advocates the WRU taking full control! To me this would mean the Dragons being abolished as it would suit the WRU and the west Wales view to win. They could then have a go at the Blues and make Rugby a WEST WALES game as it seems they are willing to bail out the teams down there but nothing in East Wales.

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DaiFrank says...
8:33pm Tue 26 Feb 13

The People's Republic of Newp wrote:
portforever wrote:
i dont know if the dragons board have the money to invest in the team, maybe someone on this forum knows.no disrespect to the present sponser but dragons also need a bigger, better knows company with a bigger budget but i guess that depends on the performance on the field.not sure jones is the right person but at least it shows some ambition. the players cant have any time for de anymore and he needs to go or step down to a lower level in the side, i do feel sorry for the guy as am sure he is doing the best he can.
Securing new investment depends more on the WRU relinquishing their 'interest' more than anything else.
Your point made in the last two sentences are correct.

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DaiFrank says...
8:36pm Tue 26 Feb 13

saltheartfoamfollowe
r wrote:
AAH LAY LOO YAAAR!!!
The redeemer cometh.Technical director of London Welsh no less,some CV entry that.Unwanted by any aviva premier or first div..side scoots off to Russia to become Komrad Jones and changes Russian Rugby such that they are now a major force in world rugby.Just what's needed at the dragons,another waste of money when what is really needed is a playmaker of quality at10 and a couple of hard headed forwards with plenty of bottle.
I wont hold my breath.
Absolutely agree. They need a coach with a proven track record. Jones's CV is poor and should not even be considered.

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dragsam says...
11:05pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Jones CV poor??? Compared to who?? DE?? Sure Eddie Jones is waiting for the call from Hazel??? Jones has won English and Euro titles with Sale, been to a RWC. He has experience. Beggars cant be choosers!!

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Dai the Milk says...
10:59am Wed 27 Feb 13

It matters little who is appointed coach at this artificial set up. No one wants this current monstrosity. Newport supporters don't, the valleys (who traditionally supply the players) don't and by the look of things, the Newport management don't either as they are content to run it into the ground. Whoever is appointed coach will have a very hard time there and need a lot of sleeping pills. Paul Turner was a good coach and look what happened to him. You cannot make a silk purse from a sow's ear. The Dragons will continue to be the graveyard of coaches until the whole blueprint is ripped up and either a 'superclub' formed openly or a truly inclusive and representative regional side formed, not this ridiculous sham side which everyone can see through. The clock is still ticking.

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Goldy_Lookin_Clart says...
3:27pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Wasnt captain Kingsley at the helm in 1997 when wales lost 97 - 16 to bocks like? No much hope of doing a deal wiv that pedigree like.

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