Dragons have been drawn into pool A of the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup and will be facing Gallagher Premiership side Wasps and Top14 outfit Bordeaux Begles as the Newport based side make their return to the competition after nine years, writes Gavin Barrett.
Let’s take a closer look at the two teams that will be visiting Rodney Parade in the forthcoming campaign and what Dragons players and supporters can expect from the opposition.
Starting with 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership runner-up Wasps, they have been a completely different side since Lee Blackett took charge in February 2020, guiding them from 10th to 2nd in the league and just missing out on the Gallagher Premiership title to Exeter Chiefs in the final.
The two-time Champions Cup winners (2004, 2007) have a decorated history with 12 major titles to their name and they will be looking to add to that tally in the current campaign.
Their star-studded squad includes captain Joe Launchbury who is one of numerous international players in their ranks, that also includes Kiwi fly half Lima Sopoaga and centre Malakai Fekitoa.
Like Dragons, one of their biggest strengths is their back row, with Tom Willis and Thomas Young being two of the best in the domestic game in recent seasons. The back-row battle will be a key element in the outcome of these matches.
Wasps are real contenders going off their most recent performances and Dragons will definitely have their hands full and will have to be at their best to stand a chance against Blackett’s men.
Onto Top 14 side Bordeaux Begles, the French side finished top of the table last season and, despite missing out on the title in the play offs, will be a huge force in the Heineken Champions Cup in 2020/21.
Bordeaux are a side with plenty of experience in their squad and one of their biggest strengths is their pack and set piece.
Led by captain Jefferson Poirot their pack includes internationals such as tighthead Ben Tameifuna, locks Kane Douglas and Alexandre Flanquart and a back row involving Beka Gorgadze and Scott Higginbotham.
Semi Radradra leaving to join Bristol will be a massive loss to the Les Girondins backline but they still have some real quality that can hurt any opposition, including Argentinian winger and former Exeter Chief Santiago Cordero.
Their kicking game brings another challenge to the Dragons with Kiwi fly half Ben Botica reliable as ever with the boot and the Dragons back three will have their work cut out under the high ball.
Known for their massive pack Bordeaux will bring massive physicality to the field and the Dragons will have to front up and match that physicality in order to get anything from the games.
