Dragons RFC will be boosted by the arrival of four players this week ahead of the EPCR Challenge Cup clash with Emirates Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Head Coach Dai Flanagan has revealed loosehead Rhodri Jones and lock Ben Carter will join their teammates after Test duty while prop Rob Evans and wing Jared Rosser will also travel to South Africa.
Wing Rio Dyer, though, will stay in Wales to recover from his international exertions ahead of the home game against French side Pau that is followed by derbies with Cardiff and the Scarlets.
Dyer started against New Zealand, Argentina and Australia, scoring tries against the All Blacks and Wallabies.
“Rio won’t be coming out. He had a little niggle at the end of back end of the international programme, while he’s also experienced the intensity of matchday at that level for the first time,” said Flanagan.
“It’s important that he gets some recovery time to come back into the group when we get home. “It’s not so much physical [exertions], because everybody trains hard, it’s the intensity of matchday. We feel it’s best for Rio to have a bit of a longer break to come back into the group flying.”
The players linking up with the squad in Cape Town for training are not guaranteed to feature against the Lions with Flanagan keen to use his whole squad after an encouraging tour.
“There will be a bit more rotation because we want a healthy squad and for boys to experience game time on this tour,” said Flanagan.
“Going forward, the derbies and Bulls will be an opportunity for us to say ‘this is us’. I have been proud of how the squad has come together, they are disappointed with the outcomes but this is a three-week process as a group.
“I have been clear with them that I believe we have a strong squad that needs to develop. My job is to give opportunities because players have earnt them through their training.”
There will be a bit more rotation because we want a healthy squad and for boys to experience game time on this tour...
