Newport Gwent Dragons have named a 25 man squad for the derby match against the Blues at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday (23rd December, 7:35pm).
Following last weekend’s loss at Rodney Parade to Exeter the Dragons will be looking to turn things round in the first of a triple header of Welsh derbies for the Men of Gwent.
In the forwards, Dan Way and Steve Jones return to the squad in place of Keiron Jenkins and Rhys Buckley respectively. Jevon Groves and Darren Waters are also brought into the squad with Tom Brown missing out.
Half Back Steffan Jones is also named having missed last weekend’s game against Exeter Chiefs at Rodney Parade.
STATS
• The Dragons won the most recent match between the two teams, 28-15 at Rodney Parade on 29 April, to end an eight game losing run against the Blues.
• Jason Tovey is still one of the league’s most prolific point scorers this season, slotting 84.9% of his RaboDirect PRO12 kicks this season.
• If Martyn Thomas plays in the game at the Cardiff City Stadium it will be his 50th RaboDirect PRO12 appearance.
• The fastest RaboDirect PRO12 try on record was scored in a Dragons vs Blues game. It was scored by Nathan Brew (brother of the Dragons’ Aled) for the Dragons at Cardiff Arms Park on 27 December 2005 and was scored after only 18 seconds.
Newport Gwent Dragons Squad
Martyn Thomas, Will Harries, Tonderai Chavhanga, Aled Brew, Adam Hughes, Anitelea Tuilagi, Lewis Robling, Jason Tovey, Steffan Jones, Wayne Evans, Joe Bedford, Jevon Groves, Darren Waters, Toby Faletau, Gavin Thomas, Danny Lydiate, Lewis Evans, Rob Sidoli, Adam Jones, Nathan Buck, Nathan Williams, Dan Way, Phil Price, Lloyd Burns, Steve Jones
