WALES tighthead Leon Brown will make his first Dragons appearance since January when starting at Bath tomorrow in a big boost ahead of the United Rugby Championship.
The 27-year-old prop, who has won 24 caps, signed an incentivised extension on his deal with the Rodney Parade club this summer.
Brown has hit double figures for club appearances in just one of the last four seasons and last turned out for Dai Flanagan’s side in the January defeat to the Sharks in Newport, when he put in an impressive performance against strong-scrummaging Springbok Ox Nche.
That display highlighted his importance to the Dragons when fit and firing but he then went off with Wales for the Six Nations and suffered an injury against Scotland in the opener.
His club and country medical staff adopted a cautious approach and Brown is now in shape for what is a crucial campaign for the powerful front rower.
The Dragons need him to stay fit after the shock retirement of Lloyd Fairbrother that has left them a tighthead down, with Flanagan in the market for another contender at 3.
Dmitri Arhip, who turns 36 next month, is still managing a knee niggle while Chris Coleman is also sidelined.
Brown starts at the Rec (kick-off 7.15pm) with Luke Yendle and academy novice Owain James on the bench.
The Dragons start all three of their Wales summer tourists – captain Ben Carter, his fellow lock Matthew Screech and wing Rio Dyer – while Shane Lewis-Hughes makes a first outing after signing from Cardiff.
Cai Evans starts at full-back while winger Jared Rosser gets the nod at outside centre, with risks not taken on Joe Westwood and Harry Wilson due to niggles.
Wales hooker Elliot Dee and full-back/fly-half Angus O’Brien haven’t featured in pre-season but will be candidates to play in the URC opener against the Ospreys a week on Saturday while Australian lock Steve Cummins and back rower Taine Basham are nursing minor injuries.
Flanagan said: “We’re looking forward to our final pre-season test, and it should be a great challenge against a full-strength Bath side in front of a big crowd at The Rec.
“We’ve looked to get all the squad game time throughout pre-season and it’s fantastic that we welcome back several of our Welsh internationals for this fixture.
“It’s another big 80 minutes as we look to build momentum ahead of the league opener against Ospreys next weekend.”
Dragons RFC: Cai Evans; Rio Dyer, Jared Rosser, Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser; Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Leon Brown, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter (captain), Ryan Woodman, Harri Keddie, Shane Lewis-Hughes.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Oli Burrows, Rhodri Jones, Luke Yendle, Owain James, Nick Thomas, George Nott, Evan Minto, George Young, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Steff Hughes, Huw Anderson, Harry Rees-Weldon.
England stars back for Bath
BATH welcome back a trio of England internationals after their summer exploits in New Zealand when they host the Dragons tonight.
The English Premiership runners-up have named a strong side for the clash at the Rec with Ben Spencer back from facing the All Blacks to be Scotland playmaker Finn Russell’s half-back partner.
Tighthead Will Stuart and powerhouse centre also enjoy their first summer action after returning from New Zealand.
It promises to be a serious test for the Dragons against a Bath side that also features Alfie Barbeary, Charlie Ewels, Ted Hill and Koe Cokanasiga.
Wales tighthead Archie Griffin, who performed strongly in Australia in July, is on the bench along with promising Wales Under-20s centre Louie Hennessey.
Bath: Tom de Glanville; Joe Cokanasiga, Ollie Lawrence, Orlando Bailey, Will Muir; Finn Russell,Ben Spencer (captain); Arthur Cordwell, Tom Dunn, Will Stuart, Quinn Roux, Charlie Ewels, Ted Hill, Miles Reid, Alfie Barbeary.
Replacements: Niall Annett, Josh Bayliss, Will Butt, Tom Carr-Smith, Jacques du Plessis, Austin Emens, Hame Faiva, Archie Griffin, Sam Harris, Louie Hennessey, Ruaridh McConnochie, Ross Molony, Tyler Offiah, Guy Pepper, Ewan Richards, Louis Schreuder, Billy Sela, Ethan Staddon, Francois van Wyk
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