LV= Anglo Welsh Cup semi-final - Gloucester v Newport Gwent Dragons Venue: Kingsholm Date: Sunday, 13 March Kick-off: 1300 GMT Coverage: Score updates on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Sport website. Live on Sky Sports 3
 Charteris has won 22 Wales caps since his debut against South Africa in 2004 |
Luke Charteris says silverware is long overdue at Newport Gwent Dragons as the Welsh region prepare for their LV= Cup semi-final at Gloucester. The nearest the Welsh region came to a trophy was a European Challenge Cup 46-29 semi-final defeat to French side Clermont Auvergne in 2007. "I've been here 10 years now and I think we have made one semi-final," said the Wales international lock. "For a club of this sort of history and size, it is not good enough." Charteris has been a regular in the Dragons' European adventures since the Rodney Parade region was formed after the advent of regional rugby in 2003. He was also part of a Dragons squad that lost a Celtic Cup quarter-final 46-19 to Scarlets in the 2004/05 season. But apart from those brief glimpses of potential silverware, the Dragons, widely regarded as the paupers of Wales' four regions, have suffered barren times at Rodney Parade. The Dragons, however, have qualified for the last four of the LV= Cup after an impressive three wins from their four group games. And the region, who parted company with coach Paul Turner in February, are enjoying a purple patch under caretaker boss Darren Edwards.  | Going to Gloucester is going to be pretty similar atmosphere and intensity as going to Munster Dragons lock Luke Charteris |
The Dragons have suffered only one defeat in six games - a 38-17 Magners league defeat in Munster last Saturday - but on Sunday they travel to a Gloucester side that have lost only once at home all season. The Dragons have never beaten Gloucester at Kingsholm but did beat the English giants for the first time in their history in the LV= Cup earlier this season in an 18-12 victory. Now Wales second-rower Charteris is hoping the Dragons can regain some of the form that saw them beat Sale Sharks and the Scarlets on the way to qualifying for the last four. "We want to be playing in semi-finals as players and I know the fans want to be going to these occasions," said Charteris, who has won 22 Wales caps. "So hopefully come Sunday we can take a lot of supporters up there and get a good win and go on to the final. It is massive. "We are going to go there, we will just enjoy the day, play with confidence and try to get us to the final." If the Dragons are to come away from Aviva Premiership high-fliers Gloucester clutching a cup final place, Charteris admits the Welsh side have to learn from their defeat to Munster. "We have to use that as a lesson," said the 28-year-old. "Going to Gloucester is going to be a pretty similar atmosphere and intensity as going to Munster - and they actually play a similar way as well. "So we know if we don't improve our performance from last Sunday then we are not going to make the final. So good lessons have been learnt there."
|
Bookmark with:
What are these?