The side has been coached by both the Dragons Director of Rugby Lyn Jones and Byron Haywood who is the Dragons Academy WRU Skills coach. The match has been a joint effort between the senior region and the academy.
The team has had great support from the Premiership clubs as they have released players in order to play the fixture.
Director of Rugby for Newport Gwent Dragons, Lyn Jones said, “It’s an exciting proposition to play against Oxford University. There has been a lot of training going on with the academy players and it’s great to see them in a good quality game of rugby against Oxford University.
“It brings together some players from the senior squad, who are returning from injury or some of those who need game time, plus the academy players. It also gives those future dragons players in the academy the chance to play alongside these senior dragons squad members.”
Dragons Development team to face Oxford University RFC
Geraint O'Driscoll (Newport), Lewis Hudd (Academy), Matthew Pewtner (Dragons), Lewis Robling (Dragons), Ashton Hewitt (Academy), Steffan Jones (Dragons), Luke Jones (Dragons); Nathan Williams (Dragons), Henry Palmer (Cross Keys/Blackwood), Alex Jeffries (Academy), Joe Davies (Academy), Adam Jones (Capt, Dragons), Dan Crimmins (Bedwas), Oliver Griffiths (Academy), James Benjamin (Academy).
Replacements:
Rhys Hutchinson (Bedwas), Luke Garrett (Academy), Joe Mills (Bedwas), Scott Andrews (Academy), Deryn Jones (Academy), James Sawyer (Bedwas), Owen Davies (Academy/Monmouth School), Ethan Davies (Academy), Tyler Morgan (Academy).
