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The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has been told to rethink its proposed shake-up of regional rugby in Wales.

Wales’ four regions could be cut down to two under radical proposals currently out for consultation – a potential move described as a “massive blow” for Gwent.

At a meeting on Tuesday September 23, Newport councillors were vociferous in their support for Dragons RFC and their “dismay at the potential for losing such a vital part of our social fabric”.

Councillors voted unanimously to call on the WRU to rethink its proposals,.

Newport Council is now expected to send a letter to the WRU before the public consultation closes later this week, stressing that the city’s elected members feel the proposed shake-up is “the wrong approach”.

Dragons RFC play their home games at Newport’s Rodney Parade, and hold some training sessions at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach.

Rugby clubs across Gwent, including teams in Caerphilly County Borough, form part of the Dragons region, producing players to feed into the Dragons setup.

Notable examples include Wales international hooker Elliot Dee, formerly of Newbridge, Bedwas, and Crosskeys.

Former Caerphilly RFC fullback Huw Anderson, ex-Newbridge youth centre Harri Ackerman, and prop Luke Yendle, formerly of Bedwas, are also members of the Dragons’ senior squad.

‘Rugby tradition’

Newport’s council leader, Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, backed the call for rethink, which he said was “about protecting the rugby tradition of this city”.

He said Newport had “embraced” the Dragons when Wales moved to a regional model in 2003, and added praise for the club’s widespread community work.

“We lose that at our peril,” he warned.

Conservative group leader Cllr Matthew Evans said he had overcome his initial reservations about the regional model to become a “long-standing and, to be honest, long-suffering season ticket holder”, full of belief each year that “this will be our season”.

He also acknowledged the “enormous contribution” Dragons have made to “communities around Gwent and Newport, on and off the field”.

“Nobody wants two regions”, said Cllr Evans, who called the proposals “diabolical” and claimed decision-makers at the WRU should “back down, wake up and smell the coffee”.

Other councillors were similarly frustrated with the proposals.

Cllr Laura Lacey called the two-region idea “utter madness” and said the prospect of losing the Dragons and its community programmes would have major consequences.

She called initiatives like the Dragons Allstars “life-changing stuff” for those involved, and feared “a whole generation will lose out”.

“We can’t and we must not let that happen,” she added.

Cllr Pat Drewett reminisced about watching Newport RFC’s famous 1963 win over New Zealand, and said the two-region proposals risked “ripping the heart out” of rugby communities and would “devastate” local sport and jobs.

Cllr James Clarke, the cabinet member for regeneration, focused on the potential economic consequences of a shake-up, and told the meeting more than 50,000 supporters visited Rodney Parade last year.

“Imagine what we could lose if the Dragons were no longer here,” he said. “Let’s keep the heart of our city beating strong.”