CENTRE Jack Dixon will captain the Dragons at Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), with a host of the Rodney Parade region’s new signings set to make their debuts in London.

Head coach Bernard Jackman has named a squad of 27 for his side’s opening pre-season friendly against the English Championship outfit.

Ross Moriarty, Cory Hill, Hallam Amos, Leon Brown, Elliot Dee, Ashton Hewitt, Aaron Jarvis and Aaron Wainwright don’t feature but 11 new faces do.

Behind the scrum, Jordan Williams, Josh Lewis and Rhodri Williams start at full-back, fly-half and scrum-half.

Up front, hooker Rhys Lawrence returns to the club he left for the Dragons in May, Ryan Bevington is at loosehead and Huw Taylor gets the nod on the blindside.

Lloyd Fairbrother packs down next to Lawrence at tighthead, Joe Davies and Matthew Screech form the second row and Nic Cudd and James Benjamin join Taylor in the back row.

Jared Rosser and Joe Goodchild flank Williams in the back three and Adam Warren partners Dixon in the centre.

There are places on the bench for new boys Richard Hibbard, Brandon Nansen, Rhodri Davies, Jacob Botica and Tiaan Loots.

Gavin Henson is also a substitute with Gerard Ellis, Brok Harris, Rynard Landman, Lewis Evans, Jarryd Sage and George Gasson.

“We’re going to take 27 down but after that we’ll make the squad smaller for Gloucester and Northampton,” said Jackman.

“We know we want to get off to a good start so we’re not going to play 32 players in a pre-season friendly.

“We are looking at Treviso in round one and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure we’re ready for that rather trying to win a few friendlies.”

Dragons: J Williams; J Rosser, A Warren, J Dixon (capt), J Goodchild; J Lewis, R Williams; R Bevington, R Lawrence, L Fairbrother, J Davies, M Screech, H Taylor, N Cudd, J Benjamin.

Reps: R Hibbard, G Ellis, B Harris, R Landman, B Nansen, L Evans, R Davies, J Botica, G Henson, J Sage, T Loots, G Gasson.