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Benjamin replaces Dee in Matchday 23

26/04/2025

Dragons RFC have made a late change to the 23 to face Ospreys on Saturday afternoon as James Benjamin came onto the bench to replace hooker Elliot Dee.

The game sees Dan Lydiate play his final game of professional rugby on Welsh soil as he returns to the Swansea.com stadium to face his former club.

The backrower, who announced on Thursday that he will retire at the end of the season, starts at openside flanker as part of seven changes made by Head Coach Filo Tiatia from the XV that started Judgement Day last Saturday.

Wales U20s star Harry Rees-Weldon, who recently signed a new contract with the club, will make his debut on the wing, meanwhile Will Reed is set to make his 50th Dragons appearance from the bench.

Elsewhere in the backs there are starts for Joe Westwood in the centres, while Che Hope and Huw Anderson return to the bench.

In the pack, Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan and Chris Coleman are an all-change front row with Joe Davies replacing the injured Ben Carter to partner Ryan Woodman, while George Young comes onto the bench in the place of Taine Basham.

Lydiate isn’t the only one heading back to his former stomping ground with head coach Tiatia returning to the side for whom he played 99 times during a glittering playing career.

Dragons RFC: Ewan Rosser; Harry Rees-Weldon, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen (CAPT), Jared Rosser; Angus O’Brien, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Dan Lydiate, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Nathan Evans, Barny Langton-Cryer, George Young, Che Hope, Will Reed, Huw Anderson.

Unavailable (21): Harri Ackerman (arm), Scott Williams (leg), Ben Carter (knock), Dmitri Arhip (knee), Oli Burrows (shoulder), Rio Dyer (ankle), Cai Evans (leg), Lloyd Evans (leg), Solomone Funaki (knee), Harrison Keddie (leg), Rodrigo Martinez (leg), Josh Reynolds (shoulder), Sam Scarfe (shoulder), Matthew Screech (knock), Luke Yendle (knee), Josh Thomas (leg), Paula Latu (shoulder), Steve Cummins (arm), Taine Basham (leg), Elliot Dee (leg), Ashton Hewitt (leg)

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