Dragons look to rise from URC rock bottom

Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia won the league title with Ospreys

Dragons have drawn a line under last season as they aim to stop languishing at the bottom of the United Rugby Championship (URC) table.

Filo Tiatia's side finished rock bottom of the league, 20 points adrift of Zebre, in 2024-25 after suffering 17 defeats in 18 matches.

Their only victory came on the opening weekend of the season against Ospreys and they aim to end the losing streak against Ulster in Belfast on Friday (20:05 BST).

Tiatia, who took over from Dai Flanagan after the first block of last season, has brought in defence coach Dale MacLeod, who bullishly believes Dragons can target a top-eight finish.

The head coach, whose only win since taking the reins was at Newcastle in the Challenge Cup, is more cautious in his predictions.

"Last season was last season, and it's turning over a new leaf in terms of what we want to achieve together," Tiatia said.

"We've had two pre-season games, we've improved in different areas, and we've still got lots to work on."

Dragons have undergone a significant recruitment drive, with 14 players brought in and seven of those poised for competitive debuts this weekend.

Fly-half Tinus de Beer, loose-head prop Wyn Jones and tight-head prop Rob Hunt are in the XV while tight-head Dillon Lewis, second-row Levi Douglas, back-row Mackenzie Martin and wing or centre Fine Inisi are set for first appearances off the bench.

South African number eight Juarno Augustus is poised for his Ulster debut off the bench after his arrival from Northampton while centre James Hume makes his 100th appearance for the province.

Double-century for stalwart Screech

Matthew Screech signed for Dragons from Bedwas in 2013

Lock Matthew Screech will become only the second Dragons player to make his 200th appearance for the club this weekend.

Lewis Evans played 236 times and now 32-year-old Screech, who made his debut in 2013, joins the back-row forward in hitting a double century.

"It's an amazing achievement for him," said Tiatia. "It's a special milestone for a player who has served this club so well."

Screech was part of the most recent Dragons squad to beat Ulster, in March 2015, with the current crop look to end a 10-year drought.

Ulster have won their past eight games against Dragons stretching back to a 32-32 draw in December 2017, while they have not lost to the Welsh side at home since 2008.

How they line up

Ulster: Lowry; Ward, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; J Murphy, Doak; Reid, Herring, O'Toole, Henderson (captain), Sheridan, Izuchukwu, Timoney, McCann.

Replacements: Stewart, Crean, S Wilson, Dalton, Augustus, McKee, Flannery, Carson.

Dragons: O'Brien (co-capt); Dyer, Westwood, Owen, J Rosser, De Beer, R Williams; W Jones, Dee, Hunt, Screech, Carter (co-capt), Lewis-Hughes, Keddie, Wainwright.

Replacements: Coghlan, Martinez, D Lewis, Douglas, Martin, Hope, Inisi, Anderson.

Referee: Griffin Colby (SRFU)

Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (IRFU), Sam Holt (IRFU)

TMO: Chris Allison (SARU)