Dragons will regularly train with other teams, says head coach Dai Flanagan

Head coach Dai Flanagan expects Dragons to train regularly with other sides this season because of financial cutbacks in Welsh rugby.

Wales' four regions are operating with smaller squads in 2023-24 after their budgets were reduced to £5.2m apiece.

As a result, Flanagan says Dragons are having to "think innovatively" about training methods.

Dragons will train with another team prior to Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) game in Munster.

"We have got a platform to train on Thursday where we can train against another 23, which is great because we have only got 28 fit players," Flanagan said.

Flanagan would not divulge who Dragons are to train with, but said the session has been arranged thanks to improved relationships and "alignment" between the regions and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

While acknowledging that preparation for games would normally be kept in-house, Flanagan added: "In this day and age with smaller squads, smaller budgets and the intent to get more stabilised businesses, we have to think innovatively and that's what we are trying to do.

"So we need an opposition for Thursday and through a relationship we can get that.

"I know the Ospreys spoke about it publicly in the summer, about training against Cardiff a bit more.

"We have got an opportunity to go against 15 on Thursday which will prepare us best for Munster."

Flanagan said he was "sure" training sessions involving non-Dragons players would be a regular occurrence this season.

Flanagan is to rotate his squad for the daunting trip to Munster (17:15 GMT), with Dragons missing seven players who are part of the Wales squad for Saturday's game against the Barbarians.

But he insists there is a determination at Rodney Parade to improve form after defeats in the first two games of the new URC campaign.

"It's a place that hasn't won much for a long time and I think you can feel the pain in the group, specifically these last two weeks, which we probably didn't feel as much last year," Flanagan said.

"Whether that's because of what's happened in pre-season, because there's an expectation or whether that's performance, there is a real hurt in the group.

"It shows how much every individual here cares about the place, cares about each other and cares about the outcomes on the weekend."