Newport’s regional rugby team
Dragons start with emphatic friendly win
Sep 5 – The Dragons opened their new season at Rodney Parade with an emphatic 81-12 friendly win over English second tier side Hartpury including tries for new signings Anzelo Tu’itavuki and Ereatara Enari.
New season preview
No one is predicting a major pick up in the Dragons fortunes during 2026-27 but they are expected to improve their ability to compete and, at least, win more of their home matches.
The biggest positive is continuity. This is the most settled Dragons squad from one season to the next in recent years, which should give Filo Tiatia a much better platform to develop his playing style and systems.
The positives
- Aneurin Owen is coming off another excellent season, winning the club’s Player of the Season award for the second year running. He is increasingly becoming an important leadership figure.
- The squad has added Ere Enari, Anzelo Tuitavuki and Terrell Peita, giving Tiatia some fresh options without requiring another major rebuild.
- There appears to be a clear emphasis on improving both attack and defence, rather than simply trying to patch individual weaknesses.
- The opening URC fixture is a significant test: Benetton away on 25 September.
The major concern
The loss of Aaron Wainwright is enormous. He leaves after 129 Dragons appearances. But he isn’t just a statistical loss — Dragons are losing experience, physicality and a genuine club leader. The departure of several other players means the younger squad members will need to take responsibility quickly.
Dragons new kit unveiled
August 25 – Newport’s regional rugby team is embracing the colours of the City as the new season approaches. The new-look Dragons RFC home and away kit for the 2026/27 season is officially unveiled – and you can purchase it in store and online
They will wear the latest evolution of the iconic home kit – designed by Official Kit Partners VX3 – for the first time when they face Hartpury in a pre-season fixture at Rodney Parade on Saturday, September 5.
Supporters can also buy the new home and away kit by visiting the VX3 store in Friars Walk, Newport. The store is open between 9.30am and 4.30pm.
Dragons season review
The 2025/26 season represented a step forward for Dragons RFC, even if it ultimately fell short of transforming the region into genuine URC contenders. After years of occupying the foot of the table and struggling for consistency, the Newport based region showed signs of resilience, particularly at Rodney Parade, where improved home performances gave supporters renewed optimism. A notable 28-5 victory over the Scarlets on New Year’s Day highlighted the progress being made under interim head coach Filo Tiatia and demonstrated a greater level of confidence than had been evident in previous campaigns.
The Dragons remained well short of the league’s leading sides and were still prone to heavy defeats against stronger opposition. Defensive frailties continued to be exposed against the competition’s elite teams, while a lack of squad depth made it difficult to sustain momentum across the season. Nevertheless, there were encouraging individual performances, with several younger players gaining valuable experience and a more competitive forward pack laying foundations for future improvement.
Their European Challenge Cup campaign provided further encouragement. The Dragons progressed from the pool stage and produced some memorable performances particularly their stunning victory over Stade Francais before eventually falling in the latter stages of the competition to eventual winners Montpelier offering supporters a rare taste of knockout rugby.
Overall, 2025/26 was not a breakthrough season, but it was a more credible and competitive one. For a club that has spent much of the professional era battling negative perceptions, signs of progress mattered. The challenge now is turning occasional promise into sustained success and proving that this season was the beginning of something more substantial rather than another false dawn.