Lloyd Evans can bring the best out of Will Reed at Dragons

The playmaker is in his second week of pre-season training alongside Lloyd Evans, a summer signing from Gloucester.

The new man was a fly-half/full-back in his time with the Cherry and Whites but, after predominantly being a 15 last season, he has been brought over the border to be a 10.

That comes after a gamble that backfired last summer following the departures of JJ Hanrahan and Sam Davies.

The Dragons rolled the dice and opted to use Angus O’Brien, who had been excellent at full-back on his Rodney Parade return, as a fly-half along with Reed. Cai Evans, another 15/10 was third option.

Sadly, O’Brien endured an unfortunate campaign of just four appearances because of a pair of arm injuries.

That led to Reed shouldering a heavy burden in what turned out to be a testing season.

It started with the 22-year-old from Cwmbran being name-checked by Warren Gatland as a possible Test fly-half of the future.

That throwaway line happened because of the lack of post-Dan Biggar options (hence Ben Thomas playing there against Australia this summer), but it also added a bit more pressure on a prospect still learning his trade in the pro game.

Reed needs to get truly comfortable as a Dragons player before being considered as an international, and he is grounded enough to know that.

TALENT: Will Reed on the attack for the Dragons against the Ospreys (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

He needed to rack up minutes in 2023/24… but not as many as he did. The fly-half played in 20 of 21 games, with 16 of those outings as a starter.

Reed had a season of non-strop rugby when he needed the occasional weekend out of the firing line.

It was exactly the same problem that Davies – who had a strong first season in France’s second tier with Grenoble – suffered from in his first three seasons in Newport.

In a position that is about game management, a break is needed mentally as much as physically.

Reed has shown his talent in flashes and the arrival of Lloyd Evans should provide him with the opportunity to do so on a more consistent basis.

Add in the fact that the Dragons have concentrated on bulk with their other signings in a bid to tackle their weakness in collisions, and Reed could have a season where he is on the front foot more often.

It is an important campaign for the playmaker because the Dragons are likely to target the position again in their next recruitment drive.

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Evans has signed on an initial one-year contract and head coach Dai Flanagan, a former fly-half, will know what is coming on the market.

He is sure to be watching the situation at Harlequins, where Jarrod Evans is behind England international Marcus Smith, and also looking at those currently on the books of the other three Welsh clubs.

That creates a fascinating situation where there is real competition for places AND contracts.

O’Brien has a deal through to 2026 and if Lloyd Evans goes well then that would suddenly put the pressure on Cai Evans.

He got Wales call-ups last summer, in the autumn and Six Nations but it was an underwhelming first season in Newport for the full-back, who is yet to score a professional try.

Cai Evans needs to up his game because O’Brien – big boot, bravery under the high ball and able to cut good lines – is currently the best 15 on the books, with Jordan Williams and winger Ewan Rosser also hunting action.

Lloyd Evans’ arrival primarily provides a much-needed boost at fly-half but it should also shake things up at full-back.

Reed, meanwhile, can kick on by having a season where he has 22 on his back as well as 10.