Rugby Union News: Dragons Confirm Significant Squad Changes
(BBC, May 2023) As the 2022-23 rugby union season draws to a close, the Dragons have announced that at least nine players will be departing Rodney Parade at the end of the campaign. Among the notable names on the departures list is Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou, who had been on loan to Cardiff earlier in the season.
Joining Bertranou in leaving the Welsh side are fellow scrum-half Lewis Jones, prop Aki Seiuli, back row Sean Lonsdale, centres Sio Tomkinson and Max Clark, wing Corey Baldwin, and academy player Nathan Evans. This group of players will be parting ways with the Dragons, following the retirement of centre Jack Dixon earlier in the season.
However, the futures of Wales internationals Leon Brown, Dan Lydiate, and Bradley Roberts remain uncertain, as their contracts are set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season. Discussions are ongoing regarding their potential continued involvement with the team.
Head coach Dai Flanagan acknowledged the difficulty of this transitional period, stating,
“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.”
He went on to express gratitude for the contributions of all the departing players and wished them well in their future endeavors, while also looking forward to welcoming them back to Rodney Parade soon.
The Dragons will play their final home game of the season against the Stormers on Friday night, before concluding the campaign with away matches against the Ospreys and Scarlets.
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