He’s the new man for a new era at a region with a new name. Bernard Jackman insists a modern rugby operation can climb out of the doldrums at Rodney Parade as Robin Davey finds out how the Irish coach plans to do it.

 

Bernard Jackman has set the bar high as he takes the reins at the refreshed Dragons, while also being brutally honest about where his new team stands right now.

“I’m aiming to build from where we are (a lowly 11th in the Guinness Pro12) to be at least seventh in the table,” said the former Ireland hooker who has arrived in Gwent via French Top 14 club Grenoble where he was in charge until March.

“I want us to qualify for the Champions Cup year on year and ideally once we get there, stay there.

“There isn’t an area of the game where we are in the top four teams at the moment. This isn’t a Montpellier or a Toulouse or a Saracens, I understand the model and its limitations, but we are starting the process to get there and everything is a priority now.

“It was important for me that my next step was to be working in a rugby environment and I know how they love their rugby here. I was sold the Dragons’ new story, it’s a fresh start.”
And Jackman has made big inroads already ahead of Monday’s resumption of squad training. Though staying in a hotel between Newport and Cardiff until he finds somewhere for his family and himself to live, he has hit the ground running.

Sources say he has got through the equivalent of three weeks work in the one week he’s been here, getting to know all the Rodney Parade staff, speaking to the players individually ahead of that training resumption, and meeting key stakeholders.

His first press conference on Tuesday was equally lively as he explained his vision to the media, encouraged by the backing of the Welsh Rugby Union who officially take the region over next week as well as the support of the Wales management.

Warren Gatland, like Jackman, well versed in the ways of Ireland and their former Galway base, has been influential in his appointment and intends taking some pre-season training sessions.

“We can tap into their expertise,” said Jackman. “We need the Dragons to be successful, it’ll be a clean slate and everyone will get an opportunity.”

Jackman has emphasised that there will be no rapid changes as he gets his feet under the table, promising to give all squad members a chance while existing coaches Ceri Jones and Shaun Connor will remain in place after the decision of ex-head coach Kingsley Jones to join the WRU staff and head up the Exiles programme.

As it stands, the Dragons will welcome Gavin Henson and Zane Kirchner as their new signings and Jackman is well aware of the pulling power of Henson in particular as the Dragons start virtually afresh following a rebranding under Union ownership.

“I have spoken to Gavin and Zane, they’re in great shape. I couldn’t be more impressed with Gavin, he understands the game, he knows his role and he’s excited by it,” he said.

“He has huge ambition, he knows exactly what we need. He’s a winner.”

Both WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips and Dragons counterpart Stuart Davies are eager to get the region back up and running after the changes made since the Newport shareholders gave the takeover their approval.

The WRU are spending £5m on buying Rodney Parade, installing a new hybrid pitch enabling the Dragons, Newport RFC and Newport County to play on it without all the flooding issues of the past, turning the surrounds and area from the dressing room on to the pitch into a 3G surface and also carrying out much needed ground renovations.

While no extra money will be put in for player recruitment – not allowed under the terms of the RSA – Phillips explained that the next job for the WRU will be to install a new board and in particular a new chairman while also finding new investment from outside.

He stresses there is no rush while admitting the appointment of a chairman is key.

“I’m in favour of a small board – small is beautiful – of five or six people, we’re looking for expertise, and I’d like a Gwent flavour,” he said.

“I’m not in a huge rush, we’ve got to take our time and make sure we get it right.”

It all augurs well for a far brighter future for the previously besieged Dragons – now the official title with the names Newport and Gwent dropped.

Let’s face it, the Welsh Rugby Union have not backed this new project and haven’t agreed to fork out £5m for it to fail.