Owners backed to fight for Dragons in WRU shake-up

Coach Dale Macleod trusts the Dragons' owners to "fight our fight" as the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) considers cutting at least one of the nation's professional teams.

The governing body has entered a formal consultation period for the professional game that could see the the top tier of the domestic game reduced from four to three or two.

Dragons, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets are preparing for the start of the United Rugby Championship at the end of September and a final decision is expected from the WRU the following month.

"You can only control what you can control, my job is to come here and coach, for the players it's to come here and play," said defence chief Macleod, who has arrived from New Zealand to work under head coach Filo Tiatia.

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"We are really focused on that and the rest will take care of itself, there's not much that I can do or say."

Dragons were owned by the WRU between 2017 and 2023 before they were taken over by David Buttress, David Wright and Hoyoung Huh.

"Their job is to go and deal with it, they will fight our fight," said Macleod, who was speaking at a training session at Caerphilly RFC as the Dragons tour the region.

"It's probably just a bit of a shake-up, but we will live to fight another day. I am trusted to coach the team and I will trust them to fight our battle.

"I keep saying it to the players 'know your role, do your role'. There is no use getting stressed about something that I can't control, and I am just loving being here."

'White noise'

Tight-head prop Dillon Lewis has returned to Wales after two seasons with Harlequins.

The former Cardiff front-rower was a member of the national side that faced England in the 2023 Six Nations after the threat of strike action.

Now Lewis, 29, is experiencing another period of uncertainty for the professional game in Wales.

"If I am honest, it's white noise now," said the 57-times capped forward. "We are here to concentrate on rugby and it's definitely not our job to dictate what happens with the regions and regional game.

"All we can do is put our best foot forward on the pitch, try to get results and play well. Then, from the powers above, whatever will be, will be.

"That is definitely not something for us to concentrate on right now, and there are a lot of exciting things happening here at the Dragons so we've just got to concentrate on the rugby."