Dragons name team to face Scarlets with centurion joining bright young talents

DRAGONS centurion Joe Davies will provide plenty of experience when leading the charge in the development fixture against the Scarlets at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

The lock, who turns 29 next week, has been named as captain for the fixture as he bids to earn a recall for the next block of the season that features United Rugby Championship action and the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.

Davies missed the end of last season because of concussion and was named on the bench for the Sharks fixture but did not come on to add to his 124 appearances for the club.

The forward from Caldicot will be one of the senior figures looking to make an impression ahead of the URC derby at Cardiff on November 30.

Fly-half Will Reed was a regular in the 10 jersey last season and has a chance to stake a claim after being a fringe figure in the first block while Ewan Rosser, who has made two URC appearances this season, is on the left wing.

Prop Josh Reynolds, who returned from a leg injury with Newport RFC last month, has a big opportunity given the Dragons’ problems at loosehead while hooker Oli Burrows, who was meant to start at Connacht but suffered a pre-game migraine, is as a replacement.

The summer signing from Exeter is joined on the bench by full-back Jordan Williams, who has been out of action since suffering a foot injury at Bristol in pre-season.

PROMISING: Dragons full-back Huw Anderson in action for Pontypool (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

There is plenty of young talent who could very well feature for the seniors in the coming months with young full-back Huw Anderson starting after being invited to train with Wales ahead of the autumn internationals while lively scrum-halves Morgan Lloyd and Che Hope will share the game time.

Players who have impressed with Super Rygbi Cymru clubs also get opportunities with Pontypool centre Joel Mahoney and Newport winger Lloyd Lewis starting.

The Black and Ambers also provide tighthead Nathan Evans and lock Joe Peard among the replacements.

“It’s a good opportunity for supporters to get a first glimpse of some of our most exciting prospects. They can play with the shackles off and with excitement to prove themselves,” said coach Tom Hancock.

“It’s also a chance to see some older players who are back from injury or short of minutes putting their hands up for selection.”

Dragons RFC: Huw Anderson; Lloyd Lewis, David Richards, Joel Mahoney, Ewan Rosser; Will Reed, Morgan Lloyd; Josh Reynolds, Sam Scarfe, Owain James, Joe Davies (captain), Nick Thomas, Evan Minto, Ryan Jones, Owen Conquer.

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Morgan Williams, Nathan Evans, Joe Peard, Barney Langton-Cryer, Kobi Rees, Che Hope, Harri Ford, Jordan Williams, Harry Rees-Weldon.