Welsh club looking to land All Blacks

By MARC HINTON - RugbyHeaven | Tuesday, 25 March 2008

Ambitious officials from the Newport-Gwent Dragons club are in New Zealand looking to land themselves a big-name All Black signing or two for the next northern season.

Dragons chief executive Gethin Jenkins and coach Paul Turner are both in this country on a scouting mission and they've told media in Wales they are confident they can pick up All Blacks who can help lift the club to a position where they can challenge for silverware.

Jenkins confirmed to the Wales on Sunday newspaper that they have had discussions with a number of All Blacks, and they were hopeful of securing the services of some who could prove influential figures at the club.

The success of former Blues and Auckland skipper Xavier Rush at the Cardiff-based Blues has shown the sort of influence the right sort of signing can have, and the Dragons seem determined to follow a similar pathway.

"We are looking at possible recruits available to us," Jenkins told the Welsh paper. "Everybody knows we are excited about the crop of exciting Welsh talent, but we also need some experienced players.

"We are looking for players who can give us direction and leadership.

"Going for overseas talent has happened at Rodney Parade before but we will only sign the right players.

"We have been accused of lacking ambition but we are ambitious – we just aren't willing to get caught in a boom-or-bust cycle. When you look at the influence somebody like Xavier Rush has had at the Blues you can see what the right overseas player can bring to any side."

Welsh media were speculating that the Newport-based club could come out with a major announcement on a new signing as early as this week.

The Dragons have been quiet in the player-movement market of late and this has led to speculation they are keeping their powder dry to bring over some serious sort of All Black talent.

Welsh internationals Michael Owen and Ceri Sweeney are leaving the club this summer, and it is speculated that the club must act now to lift itself out of the lower regions of the Magners League table currently being occupied.