Dragons chasing home comforts in Challenge Cup

Dragons will hunt home advantage in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup after getting to the semi-finals the hard way last season.

Filo Tiatia's side start their European campaign with a fixture against Perpignan at Rodney Parade on Friday (20:00 BST).

Last season Dragons lost narrowly at eventual winners Montpellier in the semi-finals after winning away ties at Stade Francais and Zebre.

"It gave the team a lot of belief. We had to fight to get to the knockout stages and then we surprised a lot of people," said defence coach Dale MacLeod.

"We have had a taste of what it can be like and we are excited to have a French team coming to Rodney Parade."

In December they face South Africa's Cheetahs at Ospreys' redeveloped St Helen's ground before January fixtures against Bayonne in Newport and Ulster in Belfast.

With three games on Welsh soil before a tough Irish trip, Dragons not only have the chance to take a big step towards qualification but also knock-out rugby at Rodney Parade.

There were 28 knockout fixtures played with home advantage in last season's Champions and Challenge Cups, with just six won by the away team.

"Your own crowd and support, the ease of just getting into your car and driving to the ground, all of those things make a difference in the performance," said MacLeod.

"Last year we had to fly back from playing in the URC in South Africa, then fly to France to play Stade Francais, come back to the UK and then out to Parma.

"If you can get a home run then all that stuff is so much easier."

Dragons have not hosted a European knockout tie since losing to Northampton in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup in 2021, when the fixture was played behind closed doors because of the Covid pandemic.

Their last knockout game in front of fans in Newport was the 2015 quarter-final victory against Cardiff.

Dragons started the season with a draw at Benetton and a win against Scarlets, but lost a topsy-turvy home derby with Ospreys last weekend.

Tiatia makes seven changes this weekend with in-form Wales wing Rio Dyer bringing up a century of appearances.

Props Rodrigo Martinez, Chris Coleman and Rob Hunt area missing because of injury, so there is a new-look front row of Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan and Owain James.

Wales tight-head Dillon Lewis returns to the replacements bench, while lock Barny Langton-Cryer partners captain Ben Carter. Fellow co-captain Angus O'Brien is missing with a minor injury.

Fly-half Jac Lloyd is given only his second start for the club with Tinus de Beer switching to full-back, while wing Jared Rosser makes his first start of the season.

Perpignan have won their three home games in the Top 14 this season but have lost all three on their travels.

The French side won 41-17 when the teams met at Stade Aime Giral in December 2025.

"They are big, physical and flamboyant. Give them a sniff by letting them into the 22 and they will kick the door down and truck over," said MacLeod.

"They are big men, and skilful. If they are on top then they express themselves and they are a dangerous side."

The fixture will feature the new European try-bonus rule.

Scoring four tries no longer guarantees an extra point - teams must score at least three more than their opponents.

Dragons: De Beer; Dyer, Inisi, Owen, J Rosser; J Lloyd, Hope; R Jones, Coghlan, O James, Langton-Cryer, Carter (capt), Lewis-Hughes, Beddall, Keddie.

Replacements: Dee, W Jones, Lewis, Screech, Minto, R Williams, F Paea, Tuitavuki.

Perpignan: Tedder; Toganiyadrava, Reece, de la Fuente (capt), Granell; McIntyre, McGrath; Boyer-Gallardo, Malolo, Riccioni, Chinarro, Tanguy, J van Tonder, Coulon, Dvali.

Replacements: Lotrian, Tetrashvili, Amituanai, Velarte, Taty, Tuilagi, Aucagne, Mascarenc.

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)

Assistant referees : Alex Thomas (England), Hamish Grant (England)