ADAM Warren remembers with fondness that afternoon in April when Newport Gwent Dragons stunned Gloucester at Kingsholm to reach the European Challenge Cup semi-finals.

But it is slightly worrying for the centre and his teammates when you consider that the Dragons’ 23-21 triumph over the Cherry and Whites was their last on the road in any competition.

In fact, the Men of Gwent have won just twice away from Rodney Parade in the past 12 months, a statistic that continues to be something of an albatross around their necks.

Their opening away game in this season’s Challenge Cup, against Pool 3 leaders Enisei-STM in Russia, didn’t go the way the Dragons wanted.

However, in facing Worcester at Sixways today (kick-off 3pm), Warren and the Dragons will be hoping they can rekindle the form which produced that Kingsholm shock earlier this year – and finally end that barren away run.

“The game in Russia wasn’t great for us, we just got overpowered on the day and were poor,” said Warren. “But the boys are really excited going back into it.

“We’ve done well in the last few years and we’re looking to get through the group again.

“We’ve got two big games coming up now (they host Worcester next weekend) to try and get us in a good place.

“Knowing that we’ve been there before drives us on to get there again.

“We use this competition sometimes as a stepping stone to get good performances and then build on them when we go back to the league.

“We play some really good rugby in Europe, and that’s what we want, everyone building and improving.”

He continued: “We normally go quite well against some of the English teams, the same as it is against the French teams.

“Looking back to the Gloucester game, there was a hell of a good buzz that day, and we want to put a good performance in this weekend to get to play games like that again."

Warren, who featured on the wing in the Guinness Pro12 loss to Leinster last Saturday, added: “I think everyone’s going out really focused and knowing that we’ve got to do the job.

“A lot of players weren’t happy with the way they went last weekend and, as a team, we let ourselves down.

“We beat a good Edinburgh side the week before and we have been going okay in the league, especially at home.

“We know we need to put things right and kick on this week to move forward."