Dragons Development have named their side to tackle Bristol Bears A at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium in Ebbw Vale on Saturday afternoon (kick off 2:30pm).
The side will be led by Dragons Aademy coaches Matt O’Brien and Sam Hobbs and will include some Welsh Premiership aces from Newport RFC, Ebbw Vale and RGC.
The Premiership players will be mixed in with the next generation of Dragons as the senior academy boys take to the field.
The front row sees Dragons Academy duo Harry Fry and hooker Brodie Coghlan joined by tighthead Adam Williams.
Joe Peard is partnered by standout Newport RFC second row Josh Skinner, while the back row sees fellow Newport star Ben Roach in the Number Eight jersey with George Young and Ben Moa of the Academy make the step up.
Dragons fly half Will Reed is paired with another Newport RFC player in Luke Crane at scrum half.
First team player Jared Rosser plays outside centre with young Joe Westwood lining up inside of him.
Jared’s younger brother Ewan will take his position on the wing and Carrick McDonnogh and full back Dai Richards complete the starting fifteen.
Dragons coach Matt O’Brien said: “It’s a good opportunity for the youngsters to show what they are about and a chance for them to have some game time.
“A lot of them have been going really well in the Premiership and played in a few of the A games previously, so it’s just another chance for them and some of the guys that perhaps haven’t had as much game time as they would have liked in the senior group.
“As well as those Premiership boys that have been having really good seasons as well a good chance for them to make that step up and show what they are about.”
On the opposition O’Brien added: “Bristol will be tough it will be a good challenge for us.
“It’s in Ebbw Vale so it will be a fairly physical game I’d imagine on the pitch up there. It’s just a chance for our youngsters to go and express themselves and show what they are about against some real strong opposition.”
Dragons Development: Dai Richards, Ewan Rosser, Jared Rosser, Joe Westwood, Carrick McDonnogh, Will Reed (cc), Luke Crane; Harry Fry, Brodie Coghlan, Adam Williams, Joe Peard, Josh Skinner, George Young, Ben Moa, Ben Roach (cc)
Replacements: Connor Chapman, Ollie Andrews, Pedr Jones, Ilan Evans, Dan Hill, Viliame Kotobalavu, Lewis Young, Ryan Woodman, Alex Grey, Morgan Lloyd, Evan Lloyd, Bingo Ivanisevic, Oli Andrew, Will Talbot-Davies
Supporters are advised that entry to the fixture at Ebbw Vale will be £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and FREE for Under-16s.
Season Members at Dragons gain entry for £5 by showing this season’s membership card on the gate.
