Dragons learn opposition for European Challenge Cup campaign

THE Dragons won’t have a Welsh derby against the Ospreys in the Challenge Cup and will host two French teams.

The Rodney Parade club have been drawn in Pool Two for the competition along with Montpellier, Pau, Newcastle, the Lions and Ospreys.

The clunky format for the second-tier European tournament – won by the Sharks of South Africa last season – sees teams play four of their five pool rivals once, either home or away.

In a draw that won’t do much for their finances, the Dragons will not face the Ospreys and will instead face the Top 14 duo in Newport, travel to the north east of England and Johannesburg.

It is slightly baffling that both French sides will be heading to Rodney Parade but tournament chiefs say that the encounters are decided by an algorithm.

Dai Flanagan’s men kick off against Montpellier, who narrowly avoided relegation, at Rodney Parade on Friday, December 6 (kick-off 8pm).

The fixture presents a chance to set the tone in a bid for knockout rugby and could also be a homecoming for Gwent-raised former England number eight Billy Vunipola, who has signed for the French side along with ex-Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg,

The Dragons then travel to Kingston Park to face the Falcons on Sunday, December 15 (kick-off 3.15pm) – scheduling that could force supporters who fancy a weekend in Newcastle to take a Monday off work.

They are reunited with Pau for the third season on the spin when they welcome the French side to Newport on Sunday, January 12 (kick-off 3.15pm).

That could see new lock Steve Cummins lock horns with his former teammates before a long trip to face the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday, January 18 (kick-off 4.15pm).

Whether Flanagan will take leading members of his first team to South Africa for just one fixture – 11,500 miles of travel for 80 minutes of action – remains to be seen.

The group situation could potentially impact that decision with the home games holding the key to qualifying for the knockout stages.

The top four from each group goes through along with a quartet of teams that drop down from the Champions Cup.

The Dragons host the Lions in the fourth round of the United Rugby Championship while they finish the campaign with a double-header in South Africa against the Stormers and Bulls in May.

They face the Lions in Europe in 2022/23 when the away fixture was played as part of a trip for the URC games against the same opponents and the Stormers.

This time the Johannesburg trip is sandwiched between Newport fixtures against Pau and Munster, with the encounter against the Irish province followed by a break for the Six Nations.

Breaking News | The opposition for European Challenge Cup

Dragons learn opposition for European Challenge Cup campaign

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