IAN Gough has been released by the Wales management and he was a late inclusion in the Newport Gwent Dragons squad which flew out to Dubai last night for Friday's 'Duel in the Desert' clash against the Stormers of South Africa, writes Robin Davey.

Gough is not in the Wales 22 for Saturday's Six Nations Championship game against England, and he might have been accompanied by fellow Wales squad player, hooker Steve Jones, but he wasn't released though he is not involved for Wales.

Gough's inclusion is still a timely boost to an under strength Dragons squad, shorn of seven Welsh internationals and reeling after their hammering by a star studded Leinster team on Sunday.

"It's a bit like playing Ireland one week and South Africa the next," said team manager Jim McCreedy wryly, obviously wishing a full strength side had been able to travel to Dubai for this one-off match with a difference.

"You make arrangements for a match like this and you can't then leave things until the last minute," he added.

"But all the other players travelling are Wales Under-21 internationals and part of the development of the Dragons in the future."

Of the 22, all of whom played a part in the Leinster game, only Newport captain Matthew Veater has not gone to Dubai.

But added to the 25-strong squad, apart from Gough, is Nathan Brew, recovering from an ankle injury, Pontpool captain as well as flanker Cae Trayhern and Newport prop Gethin Robinson, both of whom have featured for the Dragons this season.

Dragons squad: S Tuipulotu, G Wyatt, P Montgomery, S Winn, B Breeze, C Warlow, G Baber, R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony, I Gough, P Sidoli, J Ringer, R Oakley, J Forster (captain), N Brew, R Payne, G Chapman, J Ireland, A Black, K Crawford, R Thomas, G Robinson, N Edwards, C Trayhern.