HEAD coach Luke Narraway says it's not only the Dragons young guns that are in the shop window in the Celtic Cup – the former England number eight wants to make an impression on Rodney Parade supremo Dean Ryan.
The 35-year-old from Worcester is calling the shots for the development competition after being brought in on a short-term contract.
Narraway spent last season with Bordeaux-Begles but left the French giants with a year left of his contract.
He was then contacted by director of rugby Ryan (pictured below), who he played under for Gloucester, and was offered the chance to take over as Celtic Cup coach.
Narraway will be unemployed after the final game of the campaign against the Ospreys on the weekend of October 4 but hopes to secure his next contract, be it at Rodney Parade or elsewhere, by impressing with the region's young guns.
"I've come here with an open mind," he said. "I am here for the Celtic Cup, which is a short amount of time.
"At the end of that me and Dean will probably have a sit down and have a review of it, then who knows?
"But for me it's just important to keep developing as a coach. I just see this as an opportunity, and opportunities can sometimes lead places."
Narraway, who cut his coaching teeth with Coventry in England's National One, has taken a calculated gamble by leaving Bordeaux after just a season in the Top14.
"I knew that it was leaving it late in the window for jobs," he admitted. "I ran that risk and it was very exciting when Dean gave me a ring, told me about his plans here and about the opportunity to coach for three months.
"I suppose I am in the shop window, because it's not a permanent contract, but for me it was more about a chance to work with Dean from the other side of the office.
"This is a chance to see how he works behind closed doors on the things that you are not privy to as a player.
"The main reason for coming to the Dragons was my development and this is a massive opportunity to work with someone who has done a lot in the game and who I respect a lot, married up with working with a young, hungry, talented group of players."
Narraway, who is being assisted by Welsh Rugby Union skills coach Geraint Lewis, takes his inexperienced side to Galway to face Connacht Eagles this afternoon.
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