THE Dragons are confident that they have the right midfield mix to get their attack firing this season.
The Rodney Parade club have made an eye-catching signing in Australian Harry Wilson from the Waratahs, a physical outside back who intends to push for starts in the 13 jersey.
He joins last season’s captain Steff Hughes and ball-playing Aneurin Owen plus the up-and-coming duo of Joe Westwood and Harri Ackerman.
The Dragons operated for much of 2023/24 without Jack Dixon, who subsequently retired in April, while Sio Tomkinson suffered from injuries and struggled for form before being released at the end of the campaign.
They lacked physicality in midfield, with Owen and Hughes paired together 10 times, but the arrival of Wilson and emergence of Westwood could solve that problem.
They start together in tonight’s pre-season friendly against Bristol at Clifton RFC while strong-running Ackerman, who made a big impact last winter before suffering a broken leg while captaining Wales Under-20s in the Six Nations, is targeting an autumn return.
“We have a good mixture of centres and they are all different types of player,” said attack coach Matt O’Brien.
“There is a good balance between ball players and more physical players, which maybe we didn’t have last season.
“We will mix it up and they will all play some rugby this season, with us having the ability to play different combinations.
“Aneurin and Steff are quick similar so ideally we would complement them with a different type of outside centre, which we didn’t have the luxury of doing last season because of injuries.
“Harry has trained well and has some really good attributes on both sides of the ball. I like how he is keen to get his hands on the ball all the time, so he should be a good addition.
“Joe was brilliant at the end of last season and showed against the Ospreys that he is ready for the step up.
“He still has a lot to learn but is an exciting one for this season and so is Harri, who is back in training and is almost like a new signing.”
Ackerman suffered a fractured tibia and fibula after getting his left leg trapped under a body in Wales Under-20s' defeat to France at Cardiff Arms Park.
The 19-year-old from Newbridge is unlikely to be considered for Dragons action in the first block of the URC and could make his return in Super Rygbi Cymru after previously impressing for Newport RFC.
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