Head Coach Dai Flanagan has vowed Dragons will do all they can to make the Rodney Parade faithful proud this season – as the team bids to start the campaign on home soil with a bang.
Dragons welcome Munster Rugby to Newport on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 3pm) in Round Two of the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Flanagan insists the Dragons squad have been working hard throughout the week as they look to respond to the Edinburgh defeat in the best way possible.
And he acknowledges it is now down to the players to stand up and produce a performance to make supporters proud.
“We were all disappointed with our inaccuracy and we’ve been working hard to put that right,” he said.
“It’s a hard-working group here and they have reacted positively.
“They know they can be better and it's important we show that on the weekend. We must move forward, and we must move forward quickly.
“We need to put up a much better showing, but also we need to make people around this region proud of what we're representing,” he stressed.
“There are good people in the region, in every club in the region, and our club needs to represent that.”
Flanagan has also spoken about the desire to break the run of games without victory at Rodney Parade and make it a difficult place once more for teams to visit.
“First and foremost, it's about putting some wrongs right, and Rodney Parade is a factor, and we need to build on that,” he said.
“I don't think anyone in the region is happy with how it was last season. We have got our first opportunity this weekend to change that.
“We've really got to make sure we home in on what makes people from the region proud to watch the team play.
“Alongside that is the support we have, and I've been on the opposition and it's a tough, tough crowd to play in front of.
“When you make a mistake, they are on top of you. If the home team get anything, they celebrate. We need that this weekend more than ever.”
Tickets for the opening four home games of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season at Rodney Parade are on sale NOW! Click HERE to buy online or call 01633 670690.
We need to put up a much better showing, but also we need to make people around this region proud of what we're representing...
