Charteris ready for Connacht test
Welsh international lock Luke Charteris returns to captain the Dragons in their home match against Connacht on Saturday evening at Rodney Parade.
The impressive second row had missed a couple of weeks due to an eye injury but now is deemed fit and ready for Magners League action.
All Black scrum half Danny Lee is also in the lineup, making his first start for the team this season. He is joined in the run-on XV by centre Rhodri Gomer Davies after he completed his recovery from his foot surgery.
Back row Hoani MacDonald has also come back from a shoulder injury to take up a position on the bench.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley meanwhile has made a number of changes to his side.
In the backs, Liam Bibo, Niva Ta’auso, Miah Nikora and Conor O’Loughlin come into the team while, up front, flank Ray Ofisa is ruled out through illness and Ronan Loughney, Michael Swift, Johnny O’Connor and Mike McCarthy take up places in the team.
“We know it will be a tough test against the Dragons but we are anxious to bounce back from last week,” said Connacht coach Michael Bradley.
The teams:
Dragons: 15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Aled Brew, 13 Tom Riley, 12 Rhodri Gomer Davies, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Danny Lee, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 James Harris, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris (captain), 4 Adam Jones, 3 Gethin Robinson, 2 Steve Jones, 1 Hugh Gustafson.
Replacements: 16 Duane Goodfield, 17 Nigel Hall, 18 Hoani MacDonald, 19 Lewis Evans, 20 Will Harries, 21 Shaun Connor, 22 Wayne Evans
Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Liam Bibo, 13 Niva Ta’auso, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Troy Nathan, 10 Miah Nikora, 9 Conor O’Loughlin, 8 John Muldoon (captain), 7 Johnny O’Connor, 6 Mike McCarthy, 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Ronan Loughney.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Brett Wilkinson, 18 Andrew Browne, 19 Mike McComish, 20 Frank Murphy, 21 Ian Keatley, 22 Aidan Wynne.
Date: Saturday, October 3
Time: 16:30 (15:30 GMT)
Venue: Rodney Parade
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Phil Fear (Wales), Neil Howells (Wales)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (Wales)
