Dragons chief executive Rhys Blumberg admits being saved from a Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) cut puts extra pressure on results – and has set an ambitious target of reaching the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs.
It was announced in July that privately-owned Dragons and WRU-owned Cardiff will be given east and central licences, leaving Llanelli-based Scarlets and Swansea-based Ospreys competing to be the team in the west.
Asked at a meeting with supporters if the WRU’s plans put more pressure on results, Blumberg replied: “Yes, I do, and I honestly think it will be a great year for us.
“If we do win more games then it’s definitely not going to harm us as we go through this process with the WRU.”
Dragons are traditionally the worst performing of the Welsh quartet but made a big improvement in 2025-26.
Filo Tiatia’s side made the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup and won three games and drew four times to claim 28 points in the URC, up from just nine points in a nightmare 2024-25 that featured a solitary victory.
They still finished one from bottom because of missed opportunities and were pipped to 14th by Scarlets on win count, meaning they have been Wales’ lowest-ranked side in 18 of 23 seasons.
Dragons have not finished in the top half of the league since 2005 but Blumberg has set a lofty target of reaching the play-offs.
“We want the top eight, I have made that very well known to Filo and he is definitely on board with that as an ambition,” he said.
“That would be a huge step up for us but last year we had the biggest swing in league points in the URC, so I am hoping to build on that.
“So, why not the play-offs? It’s a really ambitious but realistic target.”
Dragons will need a strong first block to achieve that objective with an opening fixture at Benetton on Friday, September 25 followed by home derbies against Scarlets and Ospreys.
Rhys Blumberg joined Dragons as chief executive in 2024 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Dragons will chase on-field progress in yet another season that will be played amid off-field uncertainty in Wales.
Blumberg admitted there was “an air of tension” between the professional clubs due to years of uncertainty and wrangling with the WRU.
Dragons are safe but still do not want a cut.
“We’ve consistently said that four teams should be a way forward. We stand by that,” said Blumberg.
“Clearly, with the WRU now saying that three is the direction of travel, we’ll be sitting on our hands for a minute, taking a deep breath on the basis that we’ve got some security for the first time in two and a half years.”
The controversial proposals have led to calls for the governing body’s board to resign and prompted legal action.
The WRU has said the process to decide the framework for the final decision will begin in December and finish before the end of the upcoming campaign.
Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels has insisted there are no plans for a merger with Ospreys and called for greater transparency from the WRU.
“It’s not going to be straightforward, whatever they do. There are going to be legal battles,” said Blumberg.
“However, if you are the chair or CEO of the Union and you’ve only got X amount of money – and that’s a contentious point itself – and you are going to support three teams moving forward and one has to go, then at some stage you have got to make that happen.
“It has taken so long to get here, time that has been filled by so much nonsense and a lot of headaches.
“There has been no solution and no ending, and that continues. The WRU has said they are going to provide data as to why they are going to three.
“If that is the direction of travel – and it’s not our preference – then we go ahead, organise the three-team agreement and move forward.”
The WRU, who initially wanted to cut from four to two, insist finances make it impossible to field four competitive professional sides.
Blumberg said: “Are we making the most of every opportunity to maximise revenue? Are we managing all our costs as efficiently as possible?
“If that is being done and we are at a point where we can only afford X number of teams then the conversation is a really horrible one, but we need to have it.”
Dragons beat Newcastle in the Challenge Cup in 2025-26 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
It has been suggested in some quarters that Welsh rugby would thrive if it was to leave the URC and join the English league.
The existing 10-team Prem is set to expand to 12 clubs in 2029-30 with a desire to grow further.
“I have had no credible conversation or source that has told me there is a realistic prospect of Welsh clubs entering the English league in the foreseeable future,” said Blumberg.
“Getting out of the URC, if that was something that the Union wanted to do, is not straightforward.
“I don’t see an Anglo-Welsh league being credible in the foreseeable future, but I don’t think there is any question that the appetite for that is generally there.”
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