FEW are better placed to know about the talent of Dragons fly-half Will Reed than Matt O’Brien, and the attack coach believes the promising playmaker will profit from being taken out of the firing line this season.

O’Brien was shifted from outside half to inside centre by Newport RFC to accommodate the up-and-coming Reed in 2021/22.

The pair were a formidable double-playmaking partnership – the Black and Ambers lifted the Premiership Cup at Principality Stadium – before the apprentice stepped up to become a Dragons regular.

Reed heads into the coming season fresh from a 2023/24 campaign in which the 22-year-old from Cwmbran played in 20 of 21 games, 16 of them as a starter.

The playmaker learnt plenty but also shouldered too heavy a burden because Angus O’Brien, Matt’s younger brother, suffered a pair of arm injuries that limited him to four games.

That led to a summer move to bring in Lloyd Evans from Gloucester on an initial one-year contract with the dual aim of competition for the 10 jersey and the opportunity for rotation.

The new man is poised for a first outing when the Dragons take on Bristol at Clifton RFC on Friday evening with Reed also involved after starting in a young side that lost to Hartpury last weekend.

PROMISING: Will Reed built to Dragons action by starring for Newport RFCPROMISING: Will Reed built to Dragons action by starring for Newport RFC (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

“We saw glimpse of what Will can do last season but we also put him in the situation where he was our only outside half at the age of 22,” said O’Brien, who would be on the verge of taking Dan Griffiths’ points record were it not for Reed taking the kicking duties at Newport.

“He was playing week in, week out in a side that wasn’t doing as well as we would have liked and that’s a lot of responsibility to have on your shoulders as a young 10.

“It’s been great having Lloyd in with him, they are really close and are helping each other every day.

“It will be a lot better for Will to have both Lloyd and Angus rather than taking the burden on his own.”

Evans has moved to Rodney Parade with the aim of establishing himself as a fly-half after spending his Gloucester career as a 10/15.

The 28-year-old Welsh-qualified back, who played 14 times for the Cherry and Whites last season, has already made a big impression in training.

SIGNING: The Dragons have brought in fly-half Lloyd EvansSIGNING: The Dragons have brought in fly-half Lloyd Evans (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

“Lloyd has been brilliant, he is a level-headed guy who knows where his strengths lie,” said O’Brien, whose coaching responsibilities will lead to fewer games for Newport this season.

“He leads the team well and has experience of playing in a top-quality league in which game management is so important.

“He is a bit of an older head to help Will, while he can also steer the team with his decisions on the field.

“Lloyd is a calm operator and also a very skilful player so I am looking forward to seeing him play after watching what he could do for Gloucester.”

Evans, from Cheltenham, will make the short trip to Clifton to face a Bears side who are doubling up this weekend with the Premiership side also facing Doncaster in a behind closed doors friendly.

The Dragons are slowly building towards their September 21 United Rugby Championship opener against the Ospreys and will once again give plenty of young talent a chance.

“We are expecting a big test against a strong Bristol side,” said O’Brien. “We will have a squad of around 30 boys and it’s about giving out opportunities.

“We want to see an improvement on last week and to expose some of the boys to a higher level of rugby.

“There will be a few more senior players back this weekend and a lot more back at Bath next week ahead of the Ospreys.”