NEWPORT Gwent Dragons parade four newcomers from the Celtic Warriors in the team to face a Welsh Premier Division Select XV at Cross Keys on Friday night.
Kevin Morgan, the former Wales full back, centre Jon Bryant, wing Gareth Wyatt and back row forward Richard Bryan all make their debuts after joining the Dragons during the summer from the ill-fated Warriors.
The team will be led by Wales lock Ian Gough in the absence of skipper Jason Forster and vice-captain Gareth Baber.
Forster and the other Wales tourists from this summer are not involved because the whole Wales squad were given a month off on their return.
That accounts for the absence of Hal Luscombe, Nathan Brew, Ceri Sweeney, Steve Jones, Michael Owen and Peter Sidoli as well as Forster.
In addition, Wales scrum half Gareth Cooper will miss Friday's match and the Northampton fixture a week Saturday while recovering from a shoulder operation though he should be fit for the start of the season.
"The players who were on the tour have only just started pre-season training as opposed to other members of the squad who are four weeks ahead, but they will come into consideration for the Northampton game," explained team manager Jim McCreedy.
Outside half Craig Warlow will lead the back division which promises much with the introduction of new men Morgan, Wyatt and Bryant.
Rhys Thomas and Luke Charteris, from the highly successful Wales Under-21 team of two years ago, both start while James Richards is at hooker on his return to Rodney Parade after spending last season at Leicester.
The Premier Division side will be chosen after training tonight.
Dragons team: K Morgan, G Wyatt, S Wynn, J Bryant, B Breeze, C Warlow, B Shelbourne, A Black, J Richards, R Thomas, I Gough (captain), L Charteris, R Beattie, R Bryan, J Ringer. Replacements from: N Brew, R Payne, R Jones, C Anthony, K Crawford, G Robinson, P Sidoli, R Oakley. Kick-off 7.15pm.
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