The Dragons start away to Mike Rayer’s Bedford Blues before returning to host Ealing Trailfinders. The Gwent Region then face Yorkshire Carnegie away and then home in December.
The Dragons got off to the best start in last season’s competition, beating Connacht away and Jersey at home before going down to Doncaster twice and Jersey away to end their hopes of progressing further. Dragons Elite Performance Manager Huw Bevan said: “The British & Irish Cup provides an excellent opportunity to judge players in a slightly higher standard of competition to their other rugby.
“James Chapron (Dragons Academy Manager) will head up the coaching of the side again and he developed a very good working relationship with our Premiership clubs last year, hopefully they will provide the same level of support again this year.”
Bevan continued: “The games will certainly provide Premiership players with aspirations to play regional rugby and an opportunity to demonstrate their skills. We’ll certainly be looking out for players who are keen to make that step up to professional rugby.
“All three of our Pool opposition are very strong teams who will do just that and playing Ealing in a pre-season game should give us a very good guide to the standard we can expect. Bedford first up are very consistent performers, Mike Rayer runs a very organised and well drilled operation but we’re expecting a stern test in all the games.
“We intend to play some games at Premiership clubs again if conditions allow, but if not, we have the 3G at Ystrad Mynach to fall back on.”
Pool 1
Jersey Reds
London Scottish
Ulster A
Cardiff Blues Premiership Select XV
Pool 2
London Welsh
Doncaster Knights
Munster A
Rotherham Titans
Pool 3
Cornish Pirates
London Irish
Ospreys Premiership Select XV
Connacht Eagles
Pool 4
Leinster A
Scarlets Premiership Select XV
NottinghamRugby
Richmond
Pool 5
Yorkshire Carnegie
Bedford Blues
Dragons Premiership Select XV
Ealing Trailfinders
For a full fixture list click here.
