Paul Turner would be upset if Rhys Thomas left Rodney Parade

Head coach Paul Turner insists he would be "miffed" if Rhys Thomas is allowed to leave his Dragons soon.

The 26-year-old Wales star has been heavily linked with a move to Welsh rivals the Scarlets but Turner does not want to let the tighthead prop leave.

Thomas is apparently considering leaving Rodney Parade next summer but Turner suggests it may happen sooner.

"If it is done as early as October then I'll be a bit miffed about that," said the Dragons boss.

Turner pointed out that Thomas had another strong game in the region's EDF Energy Cup loss away to Gloucester and that he would be talking to the player to persuade him to stay.

Speaking after the 25-20 defeat at Kingsholm, Turner told BBC Sport: "I thought Rhys had a good game again today.

"He's a key player for us and we'll certainly be talking to him and his agent in the next couple of weeks."

If the 26-year-old, five-times capped forward does decide to move it will be blow to Rodney Parade outfit who have performed well in recent weeks despite recording two losses in a row.

It says a lot that we've come here with more of a squad team and pushed what is probably their first-choice line-up Dragons coach Paul Turner

After pushing Guinness Premiership leaders Bath all the way in a 13-9 loss at The Rec last week, Turner's side went to Kingsholm full of confidence.

However, despite leading with 20 minutes, the Dragons were outscored by four tries to three in what the head coach saw as a "disappointing" loss.

"We were at the situation in the game where with 20 to go we were ahead and camped in their 22," said Turner.

"They got two cheap tries and the game went from us. If there was ever a day to beat Gloucester then today was the day.

"I don't think they actually won it, I think lost it."

But Turner did see a silver lining in the closeness of their defeat in terms of it showing how far his squad has developed over the past few seasons.

"It says a lot that we've come here with more of a squad team and pushed what is probably their first-choice line-up," he explained.

"We talk to the squad to every week about growing up and these are places we've got to come to, and if a wins there on the table for you, you've got to take it.

"We didn't do that today so I'm a bit cheesed off about that. But we're growing as a squad.

"A year or two ago we wouldn't have been able to come to places like this with a squad line-up and push Gloucester so close."

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