Dragons Set for Judgement Day Challenge

Apr 11 • General News, Guinness Pro14 • 1156 Views • Comments Off on Dragons Set for Judgement Day Challenge

Academy Manager James Chapron expects the young players in the Dragons squad to be up for the challenge of taking on the in-form Scarlets at Principality Stadium in the Judgement Day VI season finale on Saturday 28 April.

The Dragons play their final away game this season on Saturday against Zebre, before returning to the national stadium to play last year’s Guinness PRO12 champions.

“We will be up for the challenge,” said Chapron, speaking at a JDVI preview event in the Welsh capital yesterday whilst his colleagues fly the flag in Italy. “Our performances have been better of late and it was a good second half display in Treviso last weekend where a lot of our younger players stood up.

“Playing against the Scarlets will be a great experience for our younger players. It is all about having a go and putting in a decent performance against the Scarlets.

“They will be running out at the Principality Stadium and that will bode well for their futures.

“We have given professional debuts to 15 players this season and it is all about giving them game time to help develop them for the future.

“They are coming through as a group and we are looking to them to stick tight together and come through in the next three to five years.”

Meanwhile this season may have ended prematurely for Gavin Henson on his return to Welsh rugby, but Head Coach Bernard Jackman has issued an update on his progress – he sees the 33-times capped Wales international as a big part of his plans for the next season.

Henson joined the Men of Gwent from Bristol Rugby last summer and has played fifteen times for the Dragons this season, starting the season in fine form, but has missed the second half of the campaign due to injury.

“Gavin was one of our most influential players up until his injury in late December. He has come back to Wales and continued to train with the same enthusiasm that has made him one of the best conditioned rugby players in the game.

“We have missed him on the field but his rehab is going well and he and I are both excited about the role he will play on and off the field for us next season.”

Although on schedule Henson’s rehabilitation won’t see his return to fitness in time for the Judgement Day VI season finale, but a full pre-season will ensure he can start next season in best possible shape.

And the Dragons playmaker is looking forward to starting his second season at the Dragons with a flourish.

“It was disappointing to pick up the injury when I did as I felt ready to make a big contribution to the Dragons in the second half of the season,” said Henson.

“There’s never a good time for injury, so I’m just getting my head down and going through the rehab. There’s going to be a number of new faces when pre-season starts, so next season promises to be exciting for us and I’m looking forward to being back out at Rodney Parade for the Dragons.”

Judgement Day VI tickets are on-sale now from www.wru.wales/tickets, priced £10 for each seat in the ground with a £1-per-ticket online booking fee, as well as postage (Print at home etickets are also available), payable at the time of purchase.

Dragons season ticket holders will be able to renew their membership prior to Judgement Day during an exclusive priority window, with prices frozen from last year and an early bird window available until 21st May.