James Chapron, who heads up the Dragons Premiership Select side for the second season running, has looked back on the sides performance last season in the hopes of the players learning a few lessons ahead of this Cup campaign. He commented: “Doncaster were a very good team and it was a lesson for us. The boys found out that if you make errors then good teams will punish you.
“It was a harsh lesson and one that the younger sides need to learn quickly. Against Bedford we need to keep the ball, go through the phases and be positive in what we do.”
Chapron continued: “For players like Leon Brown, Arwel Robson, Connor Edwards and Barney Nightingale it was their first year in the competition out of regional age-grade and that will stand them in good stead.
"They've all been training with the seniors as proper professionals and that gives them confidence.
"Kingsley (Jones, Dragons Head Coach) and his coaches have integrated British and Irish Cup training with the seniors, so we are at a decent intensity to give us the best possible chance."
Looking forward to tomorrows match, Chapron added: "These first two games are crucial to get the campaign off to a good start, which we did last year to set up the Doncaster double-header.
"If we can pick up something in Bedford and target a home win against Ealing we are in the fight, if we don't then it's an uphill battle for the next four games."
The Dragons British and Irish Cup squad sees a mixture of youth and experience with Dragons back row Josh Skinner captaining the side.
The back three sees fullback Will-Talbot Davies named alongside wings Patric Lewis and Jarred Rosser. The centre partnership sees Barney Nightingale and Connor Edwards named with the half-back positions taken by Dragons and Newport RFC players Arwel Robson and Owen Davies.
The front row sees props Keagan Bale and Leon Brown join hooker Ellis Shipp. The second row sees Dragons player Joe Davies and Newport RFC captian Adam Brown join forces, with a back row consisting of Andrew Waite (Bedwas), Josh Skinner and number eight Harri Keddie.
Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select team to face Bedford Blues
15 Will Talbot-Davies (Dragons/ Ebbw Vale), 14 Patric Lewis (Dragons/ Bedwas), 13 Barney Nightingale (Dragons/ Cross Keys), 12 Connor Edwards (Dragons/ Bedwas), 11 Jarred Rosser (Dragons/ Ebbw Vale), 10 Arwel Robson (Dragons/ Newport RFC), 9 Owen Davies (Dragons/ Newport RFC); 1 Keagan Bale (Dragons) Ellis Shipp (Dragons Academy/ Cross Keys), 3 Leon Brown (Dragons), 4 Joe Davies (Dragons), 5 Adam Brown (Newport), 6 Andrew Waite (Bedwas), 7 Josh Skinner © (Dragons/ Cross Keys), 8 Harri Keddie (Dragons/ Ebbw Vale).
Replacements: Alun Rees (Bedwas), John Lavender (Newport RFC), Lloyd Fairbrother (Dragons), Rhys Clarke (Ebbw Vale), Ieuan Jones (Cross Keys), Owain Leonard (Dragons Academy/ Cross Keys), Ethan Davies (Cross Keys).
