N G Dragons: Lyn Jones offers refs feedback to 'help improvement'

Italian referee Marius Mitrea handed out four yellow cards to Dragons players against Edinburgh

Director of rugby Lyn Jones has met with referees' officials after four Dragons players were shown yellow cards in the 32-13 loss to Edinburgh.

Props Boris Stankovich and Phil Price, fly-half Dorian Jones and flanker Nic Cudd were sin-binned by Marius Mitrea.

Jones felt the decisions were "harsh" and will not tell his players to behave differently in their next match.

"I've discussed the yellow cards, I think that's important because we need to develop this league," he said.

Referees in the Pro12 are drawn from the four unions whose teams compete in the tournament - Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

Jones believes this can lead to a lack of consistency.

"It's very difficult with four unions, four opinions on how the game and laws should be interpreted," added Jones.

"We're very happy with our preparation, we're very happy with our players discipline.

"We're asking them to behave in no different manner in any game including this week compared to last."

Last month the Scarlets complained about Welsh official Lyn Hodges after a defeat against Leinster, but Jones was keen to stress he wasn't complaining, but instead was offering feedback.

He said, "What you hope and ask for is just some consistency in interpretation more than anything, we're all over the shop from week to week," said Jones.

"It's not so much for coaches, it's for the players on the field as they just don't know how to behave.

"We're here to help referees get better and feedback is a good way of helping improvement."

On Sunday the Dragons take on Munster at Rodney Parade hopeful that Wales forward Taulupe Faletau will return from injury.