The United Rugby Championship (URC) derby between Dragons and Scarlets is rapidly approaching, and Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan has taken the initiative by announcing his team lineup for the highly-anticipated showdown. The match is scheduled to take place at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 1 June, with kick off at 15:00 BST. Fans can watch the action live on S4C, as well as access live text and audio commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. The match report will also be accessible on the BBC Sport website and app, with highlights airing on Scrum V Sunday, 2 June, on BBC Two Wales at 19:00 BST.
Traditionally, teams announce their line-ups a day before games, but Dragons head coach Flanagan has departed from this norm by revealing his side ahead of schedule. Unfortunately, Wales hooker Elliot Dee will be absent from the lineup due to an ankle injury, although it is not currently considered serious enough to keep him out of the national team’s summer schedule. Dee’s position will be filled by Brodie Coghlan, one of four changes from the previous game against Ospreys.
In addition to the lineup change, Wales Under-20s duo Ryan Woodman and Joe Westwood are set to make their start, alongside scrum-half Rhodri Williams, who has been appointed captain. The Dragons are counting on a strong performance from these young, talented players as they prepare to face Scarlets in their final league match. Flanker Woodman will join forces with Wales duo Taine Basham and Aaron Wainwright in the back row, while center Westwood will partner with Aneurin Owen, who is marking his 50th Dragons appearance. Meanwhile, squad skipper center Steff Hughes will be on the bench as he prepares for his 100th league appearance, with veteran Wales flanker Dan Lydiate also among the replacements.
Placed at 14th and 15th in the URC, Scarlets and Dragons are looking to finish the regular league matches on a high note, with only Zebre below them in the standings. According to Flanagan, the team is excited and aiming to close the season with a strong performance. The coach expressed his delight in seeing young players such as Joe Westwood, Ryan Woodman, and Brodie Coghlan earning their place back in the team for the final weekend, emphasizing the importance of nurturing talented, ambitious players for the team’s future success.
As the Dragons make their early team announcement, Scarlets are still expected to reveal their lineup on Friday for the much-anticipated URC double-header, which will also feature Ospreys and Cardiff. With both teams gearing up for a thrilling derby, fans are eagerly awaiting the epic clash between these two titans of Welsh rugby.
