TAKE a bow this week Newport Gwent Dragons fans – the 16th man as they have become known.
The team has improved out of all recognition this season, securing an automatic Heineken Cup position for the first time for six years – and that with three games to go.
They have unearthed a number of promising youngsters with Toby Faletau following in the footsteps of players like Dan Lydiate, Jason Tovey, Ashley Smith and Hugh Gustafson.
They have augmented two real unsung heroes in Gavin Thomas (my player of the year) and Rob Sidoli, both just past 30 when they signed last summer but worth their weight in gold.
Tom Willis has really come of age in recent weeks as a captain and player after being plagued by a calf problem while Luke Charteris has continued his progression.
And there will be more youngsters to come ready to make the grade, most notably perhaps prop Aaron Coundley who recently scored a hat trick of tries for Ebbw Vale. But there are others like centre Adam Hughes, back row forward James Thomas and 18-year-old half backs Jonathan Evans and Lewis Robling.
And while strength in depth remains a problem the Dragons still did really well to achieve a losing bonus point against Cardiff Blues on Friday night when they had as many as ten leading players ruled out.
On top of that they possess two of the best young coaches in the game in Colin Charvis (forwards) and Darren Edwards (backs) whose knowledge and enthusiasm plus their willingness to develop a whole stack of players is rubbing off on the whole squad. And off the field the Dragons have entered into a partnership with Newport High School to use their excellent indoor and outdoor facilities. That alone dwarfs anything they have had in the past.
And a new stand at Rodney Parade is very much on the cards, built by a local firm and hopefully up and running before Christmas with hospitality boxes and lounges.
And, maybe best of all, Tony Brown, that great benefactor, has not gone away. Less involved for sure, but still a big friend of chairman Martyn Hazell and pretty active behind the scenes while staying committed to the cause.
But, reserving the best for last, perhaps the real revelation has been the fans. After some seasons of uncertainty and initially clinging to the old name of Newport, even chanting it from the terraces, they have finally moved with the times, accepted where we are and that nothing is going to change on that front.
Now they have swelled in numbers, they chant the name of Dragons right through home games and they have earned a reputation throughout the land, helping a rather dilapidated old ground become the focus of attention again.
Whereas once new stadia were all the rage – and I counted myself among those advocating them but fully accept I was wrong – now it’s realised they are by and large white elephants.
The other three regions all have them, but they are out of town, inconvenient to get to for many, they are rarely more than half full, the fans are miles from the pitch and there is little atmosphere as a result.
And in the case of Cardiff Blues they rent the new stadium from Cardiff City and pay many thousands every time they use it – hardly sound business.
The Ospreys can’t fill the Liberty Stadium despite fielding a galaxy of internationals while the Scarlets have suffered a woeful season and support is below their break-even figure.
Yet good old Rodney Parade is packing them in – over 7,000 against Munster and the Ospreys, more than 8,000 against the Blues and the fans making enough noise for double that number.
It has earned the place a name among the media and pundits, many of them ex-internationals, for being the only true rugby ground left in Wales – amazing.
The atmosphere has been absolutely red hot, crackling with tension as the fans have ratcheted it up and even got after players in an effort to unsettle them and help their own team.
Take the Ospreys game and that well documented incident when they unsettled Wales and Lions scrum half Mike Phillips who responded with a clear swear word aimed in their direction and then did a whole lot more when replaced near the end.
The fans, though, loved it. They had won and so did the team. Great stuff! And on Friday night they were at it again, greeting the departure of Cardiff Blues No 8 Andy Powell because of a calf injury with a chorus of “Where's your buggy gone?” Hilarious.
They had less success, though, with former outside half Ceri Sweeney. They booed him every time he had the ball, but he is nothing if not a cheeky so-and-so, he is made of sterner stuff and he had the last laugh when he put in a high kick, got a lucky bounce and swept over for a try at the posts.
Never mind, it was all part of another grand occasion at Rodney Parade. And, just to show that they weren’t too hurt by defeat at the hands of their biggest rivals, the fans refused to leave at the end and despite their obvious disappointment still cheered the team to the echo as they left the pitch.
It was the final home game of the season and they wanted to recognise the achievements of the squad. The players responded by coming back out to salute them despite their clear disappointment as well.
Rodney Parade is back in business, the place is flourishing – and so are the Dragons. Who would have believed it?
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