DRAGONS AIMING FOR REPEAT IN BELFAST

After a five week break in the Celtic League The Dragons are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on Ulster at Ravenhill (kick off 3.30pm).

The last Celtic League match saw The Dragons put on a clinical display where they beat Leinster 31-18 and maintained their 2006 home record in the process. The last time The Dragons played away from home was two months ago when they travelled to Musgrave Park and came agonisingly close to defeating the Munster men only for two tries to be disallowed.

“After a gap of five weeks we have a tough game this weekend against Ulster who currently top the Celtic League table,” said Dragons coach Paul Turner.

“However, we have been preparing hard for the match, the boys had a week off before having a week of intensive conditioning and fitness, a week of rugby and have had a week of preparing for the game. Last time out we gave what I thought was our best performance of the season, there was a real hunger about us and a determination to win the game.

“I expect us to show the same again on Saturday. Ravenhill is an intimidating place to play, however, our performances away from home this season have been good and hopefully we can turn those good performances and near misses into wins.”

The Dragons have named a 24-man squad for the game with Welsh Internationals Hal Luscombe and Ceri Sweeney included. Michael Owen and Ian Gough will sit out Saturday’s game following their Six Nations duties with Wales. Scrum half James Ireland is included for the first time this season following his recovery from a knee operation.

In the forwards Chris Anthony is named following his recovery from a shoulder operation and has been getting game time in the Principality Premiership. Luke Charteris has recovered from his shoulder injury that he sustained in December and has also been getting game time in the Premiership and last Friday played for Pontypool. Rhys Oakley and Gareth Baber. fresh from their experiences Down Under with the Wales 7s Commonwealth team, are also named in the 24-man party.

Baber was assistant coach to the Wales 7s team and following an injury to fellow Dragons team mate Gareth Wyatt featured in a number of games.

“It was a fantastic experience to play in the Commonwealth Games and very pleasing to do so well and finish fifth. Like everyone else in the squad, I gained a lot from participating in a multi-games environment and enjoyed learning and gaining experience from other elite athletes.

“One of the highlights was an inspirational team talk to the squad from Dame Tanni Grey Thompson. It is now, however, back to our core responsibilities and with our other representative players back an opportunity for us to get a valuable away win in our bid for Heineken Cup qualification.”

Of the seven matches between Ulster and The Dragons it is the Men of Gwent who currently edge the series, leading 4-3. Of those wins one of them was at Ravenhill, where The Dragons secured a 21-28 win last season with Ceri Sweeney instrumental in the victory kicking two conversions and three penalties. He has recovered from the groin injury which plagued him during the Six Nations campaign to be included in the squad for Saturday’s game.

“It was very frustrating not to play a part in the Six Nations. The injury is feeling a lot better and I have been able to take a full and active part in training this week,” said Sweeney.

“The boys have only played one game during the international period and they played superbly well to secure a vital win over Leinster and so we travel to Ulster with confidence.”

Sweeney played in The Dragons last away game which saw them come agonisingly close to defeating Munster.

“Last time we played away from home we gave a spirited performance and it was frustrating that we did not secure the win. We have taken heart from that performance in Munster and our other away performances and will travel to Ulster with confidence.

“We are looking to secure a win which is a must given our current league position. Ulster currently sit at the top of the table and will be buoyed by their last result, which was a 27-3 win over Munster at Ravenhill.

“Travelling away from home does not faze us as we have performed well away from home on a number of occasions, even though results have just alluded us. We aim to put that right on Saturday.

“We have won four of our six matches in 2006 and if recent performances are anything to go by then there is no doubt we are capable of winning.”

Dragons Squad
Aled Thomas, Gareth Chapman, Richard Fussell, Nathan Brew, Hal Luscombe, Ceri Sweeney, Jon Bryant, Craig Warlow, Gareth Baber, James Ireland, Adam Black, David Maddocks, Steve Jones, Andy Brown, Rhys Thomas, Chris Anthony, Luke Charteris, Bryn Griffiths, Peter Sidoli, Andrew Hall, Jamie Ringer, Jason Forster (c), Rhys Oakley, Shawn Van Rensburg.