{"id":1917300,"date":"2026-05-04T16:13:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T13:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1917300"},"modified":"2026-05-04T16:13:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T13:13:02","slug":"dragons-look-to-take-next-step-after-season-of-progress-in-urc-and-challenge-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1917300","title":{"rendered":"Dragons look to take next step after season of progress in URC and Challenge Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/branded_sport\/1200\/cpsprodpb\/cb5a\/live\/26d21710-47c8-11f1-9368-6d6a6ae2e6a7.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"ssrcss-1k0hlxf-ArticleWrapper e1nh2i2l0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div data-block=\"headline\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18pjzom-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<header data-testid=\"headline\">\n<h1 id=\"main-heading\" class=\"ssrcss-8zqj65-Heading e10rt3ze0\"><span role=\"text\">How do Dragons take next step after turnaround?<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-1uy5kw5-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1hjrnbz-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/cb5a\/live\/26d21710-47c8-11f1-9368-6d6a6ae2e6a7.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/cb5a\/live\/26d21710-47c8-11f1-9368-6d6a6ae2e6a7.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/cb5a\/live\/26d21710-47c8-11f1-9368-6d6a6ae2e6a7.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/cb5a\/live\/26d21710-47c8-11f1-9368-6d6a6ae2e6a7.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/cb5a\/live\/26d21710-47c8-11f1-9368-6d6a6ae2e6a7.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/cb5a\/live\/26d21710-47c8-11f1-9368-6d6a6ae2e6a7.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tzgxt7-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image source, <\/span>Rex Features<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-3uli8u-StyledFigureCaption ehbdhz00\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Tonga back Fine Inisi signed for Dragons in 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"byline\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"single-byline\" class=\"ssrcss-sevsa1-ContributorContainer ee66fvo3\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dt4z-ContributorInfo ee66fvo0\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">By<\/span><span class=\"ssrcss-nsjd43-TextContributorName epw3ir01\">Chris Kirwan<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"metadata\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"metadata\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Published<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\"><time data-testid=\"timestamp\" datetime=\"2026-05-04T16:13:02.854Z\">48 minutes ago<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">With the pain of a narrow Challenge Cup exit in Montpellier still raw, Dragons co-captain Angus O&#8217;Brien pledged to use the semi-final defeat as &#8220;fuel&#8221;.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The immediate task for the Rodney Parade club is to finish a dramatically improved season strongly before picking up where they left off in 2026-27.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">It has been a turnaround that few saw coming when Dragons, who finished bottom of the United Rugby Championship (URC) last season, hit a new low in December.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Filo Tiatia&#8217;s side were thrashed at previously winless Perpignan in round one of the Challenge Cup, then trailed Lyon 21-6 in the final quarter in Newport.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Three tries and O&#8217;Brien&#8217;s conversion ended a 14-month wait for a victory and proved to be a turning point.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">It started a five-match unbeaten run on home soil and led to qualification for the knockout stages of Europe, where Dragons won on the road at Stade Francais and Zebre.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Montpellier was a step too far but progress has undoubtedly been made, and now the challenge is to keep going.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Looking at the whole squad in a huddle at the end of the game, I guarantee they will have been referencing how they finish with their best foot forward, because they have turned the corner since Christmas,&#8221; said former Dragons scrum-half Richie Rees on BBC Radio Wales.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"links\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-94r6ik-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0s6gx-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Ebbw Vale to face Llandovery in SRC final<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Published<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">23 hours ago<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"subheadline\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18pjzom-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"subheadline\">\n<h2 id=\"Coping-with-greater-expectations\" class=\"ssrcss-1sc9t00-Heading e10rt3ze0\"><span role=\"text\">Coping with greater expectations<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons will lose the element of surprise they had having come into this season on the back of a nightmare 2024-25.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They finished bottom of the URC for the first time and Tiatia won just once \u2013 at Newcastle in the Challenge Cup \u2013 after taking the reins from Dai Flanagan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons have changed perceptions this season by becoming a tougher nut to crack; they pushed champions Leinster all the way in Newport when controversially denied a late chance to level and lost in the closing stages at Munster and Ospreys.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In Montpellier they stood up to the hosts&#8217; driving line-out \u2013 which is the best in the competition and did for Connacht in the quarter-finals \u2013 and their resilience was summed up by the turnovers of Thomas Young and Rio Dyer chasing a lost cause to save a try.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Tiatia demanded that his team learnt to stay in the fight and they have done that more regularly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Rivals know that Dragons are no longer a soft touch and will not take them lightly, which means they must up their game again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But while defence has improved, they still have the second worst record in the URC for points and tries conceded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"subheadline\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18pjzom-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"subheadline\">\n<h2 id=\"Loss-of-a-superstar\" class=\"ssrcss-1sc9t00-Heading e10rt3ze0\"><span role=\"text\">Loss of a superstar<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-1uy5kw5-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1mbsuc9-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/f86e\/live\/3bb4ef50-47cc-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/f86e\/live\/3bb4ef50-47cc-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/f86e\/live\/3bb4ef50-47cc-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/f86e\/live\/3bb4ef50-47cc-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/f86e\/live\/3bb4ef50-47cc-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/f86e\/live\/3bb4ef50-47cc-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tzgxt7-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image source, <\/span>Rex Features<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-3uli8u-StyledFigureCaption ehbdhz00\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Aaron Wainwright made his Wales debut in 2018<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons want to build but they are losing a talisman with Aaron Wainwright having just two more games for the club before moving to Leicester.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The number eight will leave a big hole and Tiatia is keen to stress that they will not replace him like-for-like.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Terrell Peita, who made his Blues debut in their Super Rugby win at Moana Pasifika last weekend, has been signed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;He will bring something different and is not Aaron Wainwright,&#8221; said Tiatia, who worked with Peita in New Zealand and described him as a &#8220;scrapper&#8221; who will &#8220;whack guys&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons have also confirmed the signing Tongan wing Anzelo Tuitavuki from Colomiers and have lined up an overseas scrum-half.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">After enjoying more recruitment hits than misses last summer, the hope is that the handful of new arrivals will help push the squad forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons&#8217; history means they have been a tough sell but another season of progress would help them be more aggressive when targeting signings of established quality for 2027.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"subheadline\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18pjzom-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"subheadline\">\n<h2 id=\"Homegrown-talent-increasing-depth\" class=\"ssrcss-1sc9t00-Heading e10rt3ze0\"><span role=\"text\">Homegrown talent increasing depth<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons&#8217; matchday squad in Montpellier featured 13 players who came through their academy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Lock Ben Carter, blind-side flanker Ryan Woodman, hooker Brodie Coghlan and currently injured scrum-half Che Hope have made big improvements this season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;All the players will be better for the experience of Montpellier and what has gone on over the last 12 months,&#8221; said Rees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;You review and help them grow individually, while ultimately you have to back those players up with a little bit of quality that comes in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Yes, they are losing Wainwright but they have also recruited and there will be a couple more coming in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;You slowly build that strength in depth, and that is how a team and individuals grow.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The hope will be that full-back Huw Anderson, who was lively off the bench in the semi-final, back-row forwards Harry Beddall and Evan Minto and loose-head Jordan Morris can follow the lead of those who have flourished this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons have used 49 players this season but the Challenge Cup group stage hammering at Benetton, when the Italians scored 11 tries in a 74-21 victory, exposed their lack of depth in certain areas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Cardiff were able to rotate while combining a URC play-off challenge with qualifying for the European knockout stages. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons, who enjoyed a budget increase after signing a new Professional Rugby Agreement last year, are not quite there yet as they play catch-up with Welsh rivals after seasons of being underfunded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"subheadline\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18pjzom-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"subheadline\">\n<h2 id=\"Moving-up-a-rung-in-the-URC\" class=\"ssrcss-1sc9t00-Heading e10rt3ze0\"><span role=\"text\">Moving up a rung in the URC<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-1uy5kw5-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pflr6j-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/c1bf\/live\/9903bc70-47ce-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/c1bf\/live\/9903bc70-47ce-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/c1bf\/live\/9903bc70-47ce-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/c1bf\/live\/9903bc70-47ce-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/c1bf\/live\/9903bc70-47ce-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/c1bf\/live\/9903bc70-47ce-11f1-bf7a-052ee4fcc57e.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tzgxt7-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image source, <\/span>Huw Evans Picture Agency<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-3uli8u-StyledFigureCaption ehbdhz00\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Angus O&#8217;Brien returned to Dragons from Scarlets in 2022<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-oyhass-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Defence coach Dale MacLeod \u2013 arguably an appointment even more influential than the summer signings of 2025 \u2013 made a bold prediction after arriving at Dragons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In pre-season he insisted the target was the top eight of the URC, but Cardiff are Wales&#8217; only play-off contenders after Ospreys&#8217; admirable challenge amid off-field uncertainty fell short.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons go into Saturday&#8217;s home finale against Edinburgh looking to stay above Scarlets in the battle to avoid being Wales&#8217; lowest-ranked side.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Victory would also give them a shot at overhauling the Scots and Benetton.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dragons have been much better in the URC but there is undeniably room for improvement, plus there is the pressing need to end the decade of derby misery against Cardiff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Covid denied the club the chance to build on an encouraging season under Dean Ryan in 2019-20 but, with long-suffering supporters daring to dream, kicking on is essential in 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"topicList\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1opfpqj-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"topic-list\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nj9heb-StyledTagContainer ed0g1kj1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1pfbb52-TopicListHeaderWrapper etw6iwl0\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-89o2pv-Heading e10rt3ze0\">Related topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17ehax8-Cluster e1ihwmse1\">\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-w8zanw-ClusterItems e1ihwmse0\">\n<li>Dragons<\/li>\n<li>Welsh Rugby<\/li>\n<li>Rugby Union<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport\/rugby-union\/articles\/cglp9l656w2o&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/branded_sport\/1200\/cpsprodpb\/cb5a\/live\/26d21710-47c8-11f1-9368-6d6a6ae2e6a7.jpg&#8221;] How do Dragons take next step after turnaround? Image source, Rex FeaturesImage caption, Tonga back Fine Inisi signed for Dragons in 2026 ByChris Kirwan Published 48 minutes ago With the pain of a narrow Challenge Cup exit in Montpellier still raw, Dragons co-captain Angus O&#8217;Brien pledged to use the semi-final defeat as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[35,226],"class_list":["post-1917300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-bbc-com","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1917300"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917300\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1917300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1917300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1917300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}