NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner has appealed to fans to go over to Bath in numbers to support them in Sunday's Heineken Cup-tie - and turn up in greater numbers at Rodney Parade when they return there in mid-December.

"This is a turning point in regional rugby for us as we've had our fair share of critics," he said. "I'm proud of the region, but we're just scratching the surface with regional clubs in our area. Sunday's game is a chance for people to support the region and go to Bath and cheer the Dragons.

"There's a lot of home grown players and it's a chance to support them. I've always played my rugby here and you can get a great atmosphere here at Newport - as a club they were supported even in poor times.

"We have got good support in the region, but it needs more. Andy Robinson (Edinburgh's former England coach and ex-Bath flanker) has got a high regard for Gwent rugby having played at Pontypool, Newbridge and Newport when there were always 5,000 there, but he says we should be getting 10,000.

"There's a product here and I feel we should go out and get this region supported. There are people out there, it's just a way of doing it.

"We have got more options than in the past in the team, but we're lighter in other areas. It's good for all to see in Welsh rugby a lot of other places with the development of new stadia.

"It's always good to see these places across the bridge like Kingsholm and the Wasps (the Dragons' next two destinations in the EDF Energy Cup). We've got to see what facilities they have, so it's all a big day for us and the business, seeing how other teams operate."

Turner fully recognises the threat posed by a Bath team who top of the Guinness Premiership and are fresh from going within a whisker of beating Toulouse on their own ground.

"They looked a smart side in Toulouse and I feel after watching them they've got a short ball game and a long ball game. They are probably the form team in England at the moment and arguably the best attacking side in Europe," he said. "Their key are the two South Africans. Butch James is a fine player, he's not kicking as well as he would like, but he's a World Cup winner. I tried to bring him here, but he wasn't available - but we've got a better one now anyway!

"And when Michael Claasens (James' half back partner) is playing well Bath play well. He's a top player and with James has brought a new dimension to Bath.

“Last season one or two games with the Harlequins were pretty drab, but their game has come on in leaps and bounds, fast and furious and with calculating execution. They should have won in Toulouse, they played some superb stuff."

But Turner will urge his team not to be intimidated. "It's only a carpet of grass, the same size and we need to compete in area we know we can," he said.

"Over the last two years at the Rec sides who mix it with them usually get a good response. You have to be capable of getting among them because teams that fall off them and defend poorly are put to the sword."