NEWPORT RFC hope to take on the Dragons this season to toast their 150th anniversary.

The Black and Ambers get preparations for the Super Rygbi Cymru season under way on Saturday when they travel to Usk, who are celebrating the same milestone.

That is followed by a second special friendly with a famous club when they welcome Blackheath to Spytty Park on Saturday, August 10 (kick-off 3pm).

The rivals have been playing each other since the 1800s and Newport travelled to London in 2008 to mark the National League One club’s 150th anniversary.

Ty Morris’ men will also lock horns away to Brecon and Dings Crusaders in the build-up to their SRC opener against Bridgend in Newport on Saturday, September 14.

Last season’s Premiership runners-up have also revealed that they are exploring going up against the Dragons later in the campaign along with Crawshays.

Dai Flanagan’s men have a break in their season during the autumn internationals so,  with Newport also having slots free at the start of November, that appears to be the logical time to play the fixture.

Newport County are yet to discover who or where they will be playing in the first round of the FA Cup on the weekend of November 2 but are away at Tranmere the following weekend.

PROSPECT: Dragons centre Joe Westwood made great strides with Newport last seasonPROSPECT: Dragons centre Joe Westwood made great strides with Newport last season (Image: Gareth Everett)

A number of the Dragons’ bright prospects enjoyed strong campaigns in the Premiership last season with the likes of Joe Westwood, Che Hope, George Young and Oli Andrew aiming to force their way into the senior XV this season.

Plenty of the next generation will spent the year getting game time with the Black and Ambers in the SRC, and could get the chance to impress Flanagan and his coaching team in action.

The Dragons would be likely to field a side featuring plenty of youth and players whose minutes have been limited.

Newport have been based predominantly at Spytty Park since 2021, playing occasional fixtures at their historic Rodney Parade home.

The Dragons were formed in 2003 and Newport sold their stake in the professional club to the Welsh Rugby Union in 2017, a deal that included the stadium.

Meanwhile, the Black and Ambers have commissioned a limited edition jersey that the players will wear in the four special games.

They will be cotton with long sleeves - not ideal in an August heatwave! - and without sponsors, using the traditional numbering system with the full-back wearing 1.