Both sides end their EDF campaign this weekend, unable to qualify for the quarter final stages, yet supporters can expect a fierce battle between the two sides as they clash for the first time on the competitive stage.
Ceri Sweeney will captain the Dragons, returning from international duties and eager to stamp out memories of the Welsh defeat against current Rugby World Cup champions South Africa at the Millennium Stadium last weekend.
Ceri has captained The Dragons once before in a pre season friendly against Penzance but this will be the first competitive time he has led the region. “I was surprised to be handed the captaincy for Friday night’s game but it is a huge honour to captain the region and one I am looking forward to. Gloucester are top of the Guinness Premiership and have a big squad with experience and quality throughout. They play a good style of rugby which is exciting to watch and it should be a good game all round for spectators and players alike and will hopefully end with us winning.”
Like Ceri Richard Mustoe wants to improve on current results saying, “I’m really enjoying my time here at Rodney Parade but as a team we realise we need to bounce back following recent form. It’s possible, especially with the help of a home advantage against a tough side like Gloucester this weekend. We need to capitalize on the opportunity in front of our home crowd.”
Hooker Steve Jones is named on the replacements bench and he said, “We’re a tough side and can hold our own as we’ve shown against Wasps, Newcastle and Perpignan in recent weeks. We’re disappointed that our results haven’t reflected a level we are capable of and we are looking to build on the improvements we made against Wasps and Perpignan and there’s nowhere better than at Rodney Parade to put things right.”
Dragons Team
Martyn Thomas, Richard Fussell, Rhodri Gomer Davies, Gareth Maule, Richard Mustoe, Ceri Sweeney ©, Andy Williams, Adam Black, Ben Daly, Gethin Robinson, Adam Jones, Peter Sidoli, Joe Bearman, Jamie Ringer, Nic Fitisemanu,
Replacements
Steve Jones, Hugh Gustafson, Andrew Hall, Lewis Evans, Paul Emerick, Aled Thomas, Wayne Evans
