NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have suffered a pre-season hammer blow after tenacious flanker Darren Waters ruptured knee ligaments in training.

The 28-year-old openside has suffered a recurrence of the injury that he sustained in a friendly against London Irish last August and led to him featuring just two times for the region in 2012/13.

Waters, who signed for the Dragons in 2011 after catching the eye with Pontypridd in the Premiership, has had surgery on his left knee and will be out for at least four to five months.

“It’s a devastating injury for Darren because he was looking really good in pre-season training,” said team manager Robert Beale.

“It was such an innocuous injury and it such a disappointment after he suffered such cruel luck last season.

“But Darren is a tough kid and is optimistic that he can make a quick recovery, just like he did last year when his determination meant he came back ahead of schedule.”

Waters’ abrasive style and whole-hearted attitude have made him a popular figure both at the Dragons and Newport, where he impressed last season while on the comeback trail.

The flanker’s injury problems didn’t get in the way of him earning a new two-year deal but it will be 2014 before he puts the boots on again.

Nic Cudd is the Dragons’ only fit out-and-out seven, although utility back row forwards Lewis Evans and Jevon Groves can also play openside.

Academy flankers Ollie Griffiths and Scott Matthews, 18 and 19 respectively, are backing up the seniors.