NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have hit out at the Irish Rugby Union for barring their leading players from the first three Celtic League matches of the season.

That means Leinster will be without 10 players, including Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey and Malcolm O'Kelly, for their opening game at home to Cardiff Blues on September 5.

And Munster will be without nine top players, including Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Anthony Foley and Paul O'Connell for their clash with Neath-Swansea Ospreys at St Helen's two days earlier.

"This is unfair because it puts the other sides at a disadvantage and it does devalue the Celtic League up to a point," complained Dragons director Martyn Hazell.

"If Leinster and Munster put too weak a side out against the Blues and the Ospreys it will not help the rest of us."

The problem is that months ago the Irish Rugby Union put into place a ten-week conditioning period which runs into the third week of the new season, claiming their leading players haven't had a proper break for the past four years.

As they centrally contract all the top players they have the right to sideline them, though the two provinces are unhappy about it, both complaining about the withdrawal of their key men.

Meanwhile, the Dragons have been boosted by a hefty uptake in the sale of season tickets after the success of Sunday's family fun day despite bad weather.

"It's getting up towards the 3,000 mark now," said Hazell. "With a bit of luck we could get full houses next season."

There has been big interest in the Dragons' Heineken Cup matches, especially the trip to Perpignan in mid-December. The French side showed how hard it will be for the Dragons by putting over 30 points on Zurich Premiership side Sale at the weekend.