The Premiership Select side is a mixture of experience and youthful Dragons, coupled with talented members of Welsh Premiership sides Bargoed, Bedwas, Cross Keys, Ebbw Vale & Newport RFC. The side will see James Chapron head up the Dragons Premiership Select side, alongside coaches Thomas Rhys Thomas and Chris Horsman, with the addition of Dragons ace Zane Kirchner taking a leading role in coaching the side, whilst out injured.
This season the Dragons PS have drawn London Scottish, Jersey Reds and Yorkshire Carnegie in the British and Irish Cup Campaign, with a trip to the Athletic Ground to take on London Scottish first up.
Looking at the Richmond based club’s results in the Greene King IPA Championship, Dragons PS coach James Chapron commented: “London Scottish’s results probably don’t show a true picture of where they are, as a team they look really well coached and their defensive sets are solid as well as their line speed and set piece.
“This Championship side is going to be a real challenge for us but Bernard Jackman and his coaches have integrated British and Irish Cup training with the seniors, so we are at a decent intensity to give us the best possible chance.”
He continued: “We have both Phil Price and Charlie Davies involved in this year’s campaign as well as Dorian (Jones) - so we have those senior heads as well as the youngsters and decent Premiership boys too. The buy in from the Premiership clubs has been excellent again this year so we have tried to pick a particular demographic to meet our development needs, so it will be good to see what happens on Saturday.
“The competition is a step up for everyone and that can only make people better.”
The following week the Dragons PS host their first home match at the Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach, and take on the Jersey Reds (KO 14:30).
Dragons Premiership Select Squad
Scott Andrews (Dragons & Cross Keys), Daniel Babos (Dragons Academy & Ebbw Vale), Keagan Bale (Dragons & Pontypool RFC), Taine Basham (Dragons Academy & Cross Keys), Charlie Davies (Dragons), Jon Davies (Ebbw Vale), Rio Dyer (Dragons Academy), Connor Edwards (Dragons Academy & Bedwas), Toby Fricker (Ebbw Vale), Joe Goodchild (Dragons Academy & Cross Keys), Lennon Greggains (Dragons Academy & Newport RFC), Will Griffiths (Dragons Academy & Cross Keys), Garin Harris (Newport RFC), Corey Hewlett (Cross Keys), Nathan Hudd (Bedwas), Rhys Jenkins (Newport RFC), Dorian Jones (Dragons), James Leadbetter (Cross Keys), Matthew Lewis (Dragons & Bargoed), Scott Matthews (Cross Keys), Callum Morris (Dragons), Barney Nightingale (Dragons & Cross Keys), Matt O’Brien (Newport RFC), Tom Pascoe (Newport RFC), Matthew Powell (Cross Keys), Phil Price, (Dragons), Josh Prosser (Cross Keys), Lance Randall (Ebbw Vale), Josh Reynolds (Dragons Academy), Ben Roach (Dragons), Arwel Robson (Dragons Academy & Newport RFC), James Sheekey (Dragons), Ellis Shipp (Dragons Academy & Bedwas), Josh Skinner (Cross Keys), Chay Smith (Newport RFC), Ashley Sweet (Dragons), Henri Williams (Dragons & RGC).
The Dragons PS home matches are free entry to all Dragons Seasonal Members as well as all Gwent Principality Premiership sides Season Ticket Holders, supporters must bring their Season Tickets with them to gain free access on the day.
Supporters without Dragons Seasonal Memberships or Gwent Premiership Season Tickets, will be able to purchase a ticket on the gate with prices at just £5 for an adult and £2.50 for concessions, U16s go for free!
