PROMISING scrum-half Che Hope has been denied the chance to push for Dragons action at the start of the United Rugby Championship by injury.
The 21-year-old from Hollybush has suffered a blow to his ankle in pre-season training and will miss the start of the campaign.
Hope is likely to target a return to the Dragons fold after the first block of the URC, with Dai Flanagan’s side playing six fixtures before a break for the autumn internationals.
The former Wales Under-20s international must bid his time in the hunt for more senior game time in 2024/25 after racking up the minutes with Newport RFC in the Premiership last season.
Hope and fellow youngster Morgan Lloyd have joined the senior duo of Rhodri Williams and Dane Blacker as options for head coach Flanagan after the exits of Argentina international Gonzalo Bertranou and Lewis Jones.
The academy graduates both featured in last season’s run-in with Hope making four appearances off the bench – and scoring a try at Benetton – while Lloyd, who got Premiership action with Pontypool, came on twice.
The up-and-coming scrum-halves were both given new two-year deals with the Rodney Parade club that run through to 2026 with the expectation of them getting plenty of senior action this season.
Hopes are high for Hope after the livewire half-back’s exploits with the Black and Ambers last season.
The scrum-half was tasked with racking up the games by the Dragons management but he didn’t have things given to him on a plate by Newport.
The presence of Dafydd Buckland and Luke Crane pushed Hope to maintain his strong performances and he ended with 20 appearances, 15 of them starts, and nine tries for the Premiership runners-up.
He could well make his return from injury for the Black and Ambers in Super Rygbi Cymru although Ty Morris’ men are well-stocked after signing Ethan Lloyd from Cardiff to join Crane and Buckland, who has re-signed after initially looking set for a move to an English club.
The Dragons, meanwhile, will hope to have plenty of selection headaches for their URC opener against the Ospreys at Rodney Parade on Saturday, September 21.
Wales hooker Elliot Dee is targeting a return in the derby opener after an ankle injury that ruled him out of the summer tour to Australia.
Tongan back row forward Solomone Funaki, a new signing from Moana Pasifika, is also hopeful of facing the Ospreys after an operation to clean out his left knee.
The Dragons will be without talisman number eight Aaron Wainwright until at least the trip to Cardiff on November 30 after he suffered a torn hamstring in Wales’ first Test defeat to Australia last month.
Lock Ben Carter toured Down Under but didn’t play in the internationals or the friendly win against Queensland Reds because of a shoulder injury but is expected back for the start of the campaign.
The Dragons play three friendlies to tune up for the URC with a home fixture with Hartpury University RFC of the English Championship on Saturday, August 31 followed by away games against the Premiership pair of Bristol and Bath.
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