NEWPORT-Gwent Dragons can expect a big crowd for their debut in the Powergen Cup next season after drawing one of the biggest names in English rugby.

The Dragons will have two home matches from their three group games with the first being a Rodney Parade date against last year's Premiership runners-up Leicester Tigers.

Dragons director Martyn Hazell was delighted to hear the news yesterday, saying: "You have to play the best at some time and to get them first up and at home is fantastic.

"It's a great draw for us, with two home games against two tough sides." The Tigers visit Rodney Parade on September 30 or October 1 or October 2 and they could bring with them the likes of current British Lions Martin Corry and Lewis Moody if they have returned to action from their rest after the New Zealand trip.

The week after that match, coach Paul Turner will be taking the Dragons to Franklin's Gardens for a clash against Northampton Saints, who are likely to include Lions hooker Steve Thompson by then.

After the competition takes a break for Heineken Cup and Autumn international action, it returns on the first weekend of December when the Dragons will hosting Worcester Warriors.

And that could see a first appearance in a club match on Welsh soil for tight-head prop Chris Horsman, due to complete his residency in Porthcawl by then and be available to Wales coach Mike Ruddock for selection.

In the other groups, Celtic League champions the Ospreys, face all three West Country teams with a huge clash at Gloucester's Kingsholm their first game.

They are next home to Bath, coached by former Swansea boss John Connolly, and are then away to Bristol.

Cardiff Blues take on Saracens at the Arms Park before trips to London Wasps and London Irish, respectively.

Former Wales lock Phil Davies, director of rugby at Leeds, will be up against Llanelli Scarlets after playing for Llanelli at Headingley before facing Jonny Wilkinson's Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks, whose head coach is ex-Ebbw Vale captain Kingsley Jones.

The semi-finals will be played on March 4 or 5, with the final on April 8 or 9 at a venue to be decided.

Anglo-Welsh Powergen Cup fixtures: Round one (to be played on September 30, October 1 or 2) Group one: Bath v Bristol Shoguns, Gloucester v Ospreys. Group two: London Irish v London Wasps, Cardiff Blues v Saracens. Group three: Leeds Tykes v Llanelli Scarlets, Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks. Group four: Newport-Gwent Dragons v Leicester Tigers, Worcester Warriors v Northampton Saints.

Round two (October 7/8/9) Group one: Ospreys v Bath, Bristol Shoguns v Gloucester. Group two: Saracens v London Irish, London Wasps v Cardiff. Group three: Sale Sharks v Leeds, Llanelli Scarlets v Newcastle Falcons. Group four: Northampton Saints v Newport-Gwent Dragons, Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors.

Round three (December 1/2/3) Group one: Bath v Gloucester, Bristol Shoguns v Ospreys. Group two: London Irish v Cardiff Blues, London Wasps v Saracens. Group three: Leeds Tykes v Newcastle Falcons, Llanelli Scarlets v Sale Sharks. Group four: Newport-Gwent Dragons v Worcester Warriors, Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints. Semi-finals - March 4/5 TBA. Final - April 8/9 TBA.