Sweeney’s on his way... next stop Cardiff?

Feb 28 2008 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner has confirmed Wales outside-half Ceri Sweeney will be leaving the region at the end of the season.

The Dragons pivot is out of contract at the end of this season and is now set to be plying his trade with the Cardiff Blues for the next campaign.

“Ceri will be moving on and we have had the discussions with him about that,” said Turner.

“I am not sure who he has gone to, but I think you can guess that.

“All I can say is that we plan to bring in a player to replace Ceri.

“We were well aware Ceri and also Michael Owen were out of contract and what we want out of them now is a cracking effort at the end of the season.

“There comes the time of the season where we make a decision on players and players make a decision about us.

“It is not ideal but we may have been making decisions about those players anyway.

“It is the nature of the game.”

Now Turner is turning his attention to replacing Sweeney and Owen.

“I am trying to bring in some quality in key positions to play in the new refurbished Dragons stadium,” said Turner.

“Ideally I started the process in January where I would have liked to start it in December.

“We are continuing our search for the next couple of weeks.

Turner has included the departing duo in the Dragons side to face Edinburgh in the Magners League tomorrow evening at Rodney Parade (7.10pm).

Wales full-back Kevin Morgan returns after a six-week lay-off to lead the side in the absence of regular captain Colin Charvis, who is still injured,

Two knee injuries and World Cup involvement has limited Morgan to just nine appearances for the Dragons.

The Gwent region will also be without suspended prop Adam Black, wing Richard Mustoe (groin), lock Luke Charteris (neck), Paul Emerick (ankle) and Gareth Maule (knee).

Edinburgh are missing six Scottish players with Mike Blair, Allister Hogg, Simon Webster, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Hugo Southwell all rested.

Captain Ben Cairns, 22, will form a centre partnership with Nick De Luca, who played 20 minutes off the bench of Scotland's defeat in Ireland last weekend.

Fellow internationals Ross Rennie, who won his first cap at Croke Park, and David Callam have also been released to Edinburgh.

Dragons: K Morgan (capt); M Thomas, R Gomer Davies, A Smith, R Fussell; C Sweeney, A Williams; H Gustafson, B Daly, L Harrison, A Hall, P Sidoli, J Bearman, R Parks, M Owen.

Reps: S Jones, G Robinson, A Jones, J Ringer, P Emerick, A Thomas, W Evans.

gareth.griffiths@mediawales.co.uk