Dragons young guns need to be ready if needed in URC - coach

The Rodney Parade club host the Scarlets in a development fixture in Newport this afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm) while the URC takes a break for the autumn internationals.

Of the matchday squad, only three players – wing Ewan Rosser, fly-half Will Reed and replacement hooker Oli Burrows – have got onto the field in the URC so far this season.

Lock Joe Davies captains the side and is comfortably the most experienced starter with 124 Dragons appearances.

There are also bright talents who are on the fringes of the first team and looking to make the breakthrough.

Full-back Huw Anderson, who came on against Ulster last season, is fresh from training with Wales while scrum-halves Morgan Lloyd and Che Hope should get more URC and Challenge Cup action in the coming months.

Hookers Sam Scarfe and Oli Burrows, locks Nick Thomas and Barny Langton-Cryer, back rowers Evan Minto and Owen Conquer and wing Harry Rees-Weldon could also be only a few injuries away from being needed by interim head coach Filo Tiatia.

Welsh professional clubs are running with small rosters due to their £4.5million salary cap and that could lead to opportunities.

DEVELOPING: Young hooker Sam Scarfe could add to his Dragons appearances if injury strikes this season (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“With the squad sizes in Wales, it is highly likely that some of the boys who are 19, 20, 21 will be used by the senior Dragons team between now and the end of the season because of the combative nature of the game,” said academy coach Tom Hancock.

“It’s a very useful development tool for some of these boys who might be getting exposed to playing at Rodney Parade for the first time since pre-season.”

Hancock will call the shots along with the rest of the academy coaching staff but Tiatia & Co will be watching closely.

“In terms of alignment between this team and the senior programme, it’s all the same language and the same calls,” said Hancock.

“There is freedom for us as coaches and a playing group to deviate a little bit to make it our game and our team but the game model is definitely aligned.

“The senior coaches have had input into team selection and the balance of the side. They want to see 10 or 11 senior players put their hands up for that Cardiff game and push those who have been ahead of them.”

The Scarlets, who are coached by former Cross Keys and Newport fly-half Scott Sneddon, head east with a side that is predominantly academy talent.

Fly-half Charlie Titcombe is captain while former Dragons academy lock Ed Scragg provides some bulk up front.

“It gives an opportunity for the boys in our senior and junior academy to get that exposure to pull closer to URC level whilst being supported by members of the senior group who have already had that URC experience,” said Sneddon.

Dragons: Huw Anderson; Lloyd Lewis, David Richards, Joel Mahoney, Ewan Rosser; Will Reed, Morgan Lloyd; Josh Reynolds, Sam Scarfe, Owain James, Joe Davies (captain), Nick Thomas, Evan Minto, Ryan Jones, Owen Conquer.

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Morgan Williams, Nathan Evans, Joe Peard, Barny Langton-Cryer, Kobi Rees, Che Hope, Harri Ford, Jordan Williams, Harry Rees-Weldon.

Scarlets: Ellis Mee; Jac Davies, Gabe McDonald, Elis Price, Iori Badham; Charlie Titcombe (captain), Rhodri Lewis; Sam O’Connor, Joe Rees, Gabe Hawley, Ollie Close, Ed Scragg, Osian Williams, Keanu Evans, Ben Williams.

Replacements: Lewis Jones, Max Marshall, Jac Pritchard, Dylan Alford, Evan Shelford, Dom Kossuth, Joe Demnan, George Macdonald, Steff Jac Jones, Gryff Watkins, Callum Woolley, Sion Jones.