Boss Dean Ryan has revealed back row Ollie Griffiths will miss several weeks of action after suffering a calf injury.
Griffiths was a late withdrawal from the defeat at Leinster, as he was forced out during the warm-up and replaced by Huw Taylor.
And Ryan - who takes his Dragons to Scotland to face Edinburgh this Friday evening (kick-off 7.35pm) – has revealed the all-action forward will not be part of the match day squad.
“Ollie has a calf problem,” said the Director of Dragons Rugby. “We thought, and Ollie was pretty strong, that he could play and make the game at Leinster.
“Subsequently we have found out that the injury is more than what we expected. We will get a better appraisal over the next few days, but he will be out for a few weeks.”
“It’s absolutely down to bad luck with Ollie being out,” added Ryan. “Ollie is probably the most professional player that we’ve got in terms of physical development and understanding his body, but this can be a pretty rotten game sometimes.
“That’s the nature of it, it’s a collision-based game and you look at the fortunes of some people and they stem from good luck in early parts when opportunities are around.
“Ollie has had some poor luck but that doesn’t take away from the calibre of the player, and in some ways it’s a bigger testimony to him that he keeps coming back.
“I know that he is incredibly disappointed, as we all are, but I have no doubts that he will come back fighting and swinging.
“If you are going to play the game like Ollie does, and as well as Ollie does, then you are going to be at risk.
“He’s had some rough luck, but he’s got to get back and we’ve got to get on with things.”
Ryan will now look at his back row options for the clash at BT Murrayfield and was quick to praise the pack performance at Leinster.
“There is a danger of being so keen on 10 players that we desperately want to get out on the field,” said Ryan.
“I’ve worked really hard on just looking to the next guy and Taine (Basham) was outstanding at Leinster. That’s what we’ve got to create more of.
“Yes, we missed Ollie Griffiths but let’s not hide an outstanding performance by Taine Basham or Huw (Taylor).
“For a young man against a quality side, that was as good a performance that I have seen from someone that age.”
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He’s had some rough luck, but he’s got to get back and we’ve got to get on with things...
