TURNER KEEN TO MEET OLD CLUB
By Simon Thomas, Western Mail
June 15 2005
NEW Dragons coach Paul Turner is relishing the prospect of locking horns with his former club Sale. It was with the north west club that the former Wales fly-half gained his first experience of coaching in the early 1990s, guiding them to promotion to the top flight in 1994.
By Simon Thomas, Western Mail
June 15 2005
NEW Dragons coach Paul Turner is relishing the prospect of locking horns with his former club Sale. It was with the north west club that the former Wales fly-half gained his first experience of coaching in the early 1990s, guiding them to promotion to the top flight in 1994.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.
Sale have developed into a star-studded outfit, with the likes of Jason Robinson, Charlie Hodgson and Mark Cueto on board.
And Turner's career has taken him to a number of other English clubs, prior to his recent return to Wales with the Dragons.
But it will still be a big day for him when he takes on the club where it all began for him on the coaching front.
"Taking on my old club Sale is particularly exciting for me," he said.
"These days, they are unrecognisable from my time there. They have got a huge squad, a lot of internationals and they are very French-based.
"They play at Stockport these days as well, rather than Heywood Road.
"But, despite all the changes, it will be nice to welcome a few old friends down to Rodney Parade. I'm really looking forward to that."
Pool 1 is completed by Irish Euro-giants Munster and French outfit Castres.
"It's a tough group," acknowledged Turner. "Sale are one of the best teams in England, Munster are a famous Heineken Cup side, while Castres have been in the competition for years.
"I went there with Harlequins last season and it was very tough. They were a strong side.
"So it's a major challenge for us, but there was never going to be an easy draw.
"There are no weak sides in the competition anymore.
"We'll take what we've got. It could have been worse, it could have been better.
"We are going to try and make our home ground a fortress and, hopefully, we'll start off quite well in this competition.
"Everything is an experience in Europe. Whether you are going to Thomond Park, Castres or Edgeley Park, it's all a huge experience."
Dragons team manager Jim McCreedy said winning all their home games would be key to their group qualification hopes.
"Munster have got a fantastic tradition in the Heineken Cup and Castres are always there or thereabouts," he said.
"The pundits will say Munster are the favourites, but everyone will be looking to win their home games.
"We've played most of the sides before, but it'll be a new experience for us against Sale."
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0500rugbyunion/0200news/tm_objectid=15631953%26method=full%26siteid=50082%26headline=turner%2dkeen%2dto%2dmeet%2dold%2dclub-name_page.html
Sale have developed into a star-studded outfit, with the likes of Jason Robinson, Charlie Hodgson and Mark Cueto on board.
And Turner's career has taken him to a number of other English clubs, prior to his recent return to Wales with the Dragons.
But it will still be a big day for him when he takes on the club where it all began for him on the coaching front.
"Taking on my old club Sale is particularly exciting for me," he said.
"These days, they are unrecognisable from my time there. They have got a huge squad, a lot of internationals and they are very French-based.
"They play at Stockport these days as well, rather than Heywood Road.
"But, despite all the changes, it will be nice to welcome a few old friends down to Rodney Parade. I'm really looking forward to that."
Pool 1 is completed by Irish Euro-giants Munster and French outfit Castres.
"It's a tough group," acknowledged Turner. "Sale are one of the best teams in England, Munster are a famous Heineken Cup side, while Castres have been in the competition for years.
"I went there with Harlequins last season and it was very tough. They were a strong side.
"So it's a major challenge for us, but there was never going to be an easy draw.
"There are no weak sides in the competition anymore.
"We'll take what we've got. It could have been worse, it could have been better.
"We are going to try and make our home ground a fortress and, hopefully, we'll start off quite well in this competition.
"Everything is an experience in Europe. Whether you are going to Thomond Park, Castres or Edgeley Park, it's all a huge experience."
Dragons team manager Jim McCreedy said winning all their home games would be key to their group qualification hopes.
"Munster have got a fantastic tradition in the Heineken Cup and Castres are always there or thereabouts," he said.
"The pundits will say Munster are the favourites, but everyone will be looking to win their home games.
"We've played most of the sides before, but it'll be a new experience for us against Sale."
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0500rugbyunion/0200news/tm_objectid=15631953%26method=full%26siteid=50082%26headline=turner%2dkeen%2dto%2dmeet%2dold%2dclub-name_page.html
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