And the news that everyone expected is finally here… Paul turner has left the Dragons. Of course it has happened now, not a week or so ago as claimed by the Western Mail – and by mutual consent based on disciplinary decisions rather than Turner outright resigning – but we can’t expect the Western Fail to get everything anything right can we?
He will be replaced by Assistant coach Darren Edwards until the end of the season.
The Dragons released this statement on their website
Paul Turner to Leave the Dragons Official Statement
Newport Gwent Dragons wish to announce that Paul Turner’s employment with the region as Head Coach has ceased today by mutual agreement. The Region would like to express its thanks to Paul for the work he has done in past years and to wish him all the very best in the future.
Paul also commented “ I’ve enjoyed my 6 years at the Dragons and am immensely proud to have been involved with developing this Region. I wish all the players and staff my best wishes for the remainder of the season”
Dragons Assistant Coach Darren Edwards will take over as Acting Head Coach until the end of the season.
The disciplinary reasons were two fold
1) His tantrum vs Andy Howell – which we discussed previously and feel he should be given a medal for.
2) An outburst at the WRU for returning players injured from ‘testing’ when it turns out they were injured on Dragons time and took no part in testing. Not Turner’s proudest moment
Why the Fuss About Paul Turner Leaving?
The one thing that I fail to understand is how people are making a fuss about his leaving. Last year he some how managed to convince us the Dragons were on an upwards curve – winning the Magners League coach of the year in the process. But the reality was far different.
We keep coming back to this stat when talking about Paul Turner’s efforts but the fact is that last year the Dragons won a total of one more game than the previous year. Quite the upwards curve that one!
And remember that last year was the aftermath of the Lions tour – when numerous teams such as the Ospreys and Munster were shorn of their Lions for a massive part of the start of the season. Wins included beating Munster without their stars – but these still count for the purpose of the ‘upwards curve’.
Whilst this is a blow to happen mid season (and n the same season they also lost Colin Charvis – presumably in a bar somewhere) I don’t think that it is a major issue for the Dragons. They will be hard pushed anyway not to finish the bottom Welsh region with the Scarlets so resurgent and the other Welsh regions not having the distraction of European rugby now.
I am far more interested in who they will bring in than I am with Paul Turner leaving. He came in, he tried hard, he achieved mediocrity. That’s my summation of his reign. Anyone disagree?
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