Dragons U18s return home this weekend against RGC as the young Men of Gwent look to bounce back following last weekend’s narrow 43-40 defeat to Ospreys at the Gnoll.
Dragons sit second in the WRU Academies Championship, two points ahead of Ospreys, having played a game fewer than the west Walians.
For Sunday’s 2:30pm clash at Centre of Sporting Excellence Ystrad Mynach, Dragons make eight personnel changes from last weekend as they look to do the double against Rygbi Gogledd Cymru, following a 41-17 away win in September.
That day saw Brogan Leary grab the sixth of Dragons’ tries and he starts at 13 on Sunday alongside inside centre Tegwyn Mahoney, while there are also places for prop Harry Price, flankers Troy Raymond and Hadley Worgan, halfbacks Isaac Williams and Liam Lawlor and wing Theo McKerrow in the starting XV.
“It’s been a tough week of training,” said Leary.
“Physicality was one of the things we wanted to work on this week going into RGC.
“They’re a very quick team and that’s what we’re expecting from a strong back three, it’s our job to control how they play instead of them controlling us and if we do that then hopefully we can get the win.”
The Dragons’ outside backs showed plenty of attacking intent themselves last weekend scoring six tries including a hattrick for wing Ryley Fussell.
“I thought we were excellent in attack last weekend,” said Academy coach Ceri Jones.
“We scored some fantastic tries and played some brilliant attacking rugby, but I think we were a little bit disappointed, especially with our contact area and our physicality in general.
“I know RGC very well from my own time up there. They’ve got some really talented players.
“They’ve definitely got a threat with the ball with the likes of Afon Backshaw coaching them, we're going to expect them to swing from one side to the other with loads of attacking intent.
“So we need to be on our game, as much as we can be, defensively.”
Dragons U18s: Sam Morgan; Theo McKerrow, Brogan Leary, Tegwyn Mahoney, Ryley Fussell; Liam Lawlor, Isaac Williams; Ciaran Beavis, Tiaan Hall (cap), Harry Price, Elliot Beavan, Gethin Clarke, Troy Raymond, Hadley Worgan, Jake Sheppard.
Replacements: Benson Ngoshi, Jayden Llewellyn, Scott Crewe, Gethin Tudball, Ollie Belavia-Walker, Felix Preece-Jones, Jac Couchman, Ottis Mighten.
