JOE Bearman is back in the Newport Gwent Dragons squad aiming to put the misery of last season firmly behind him, secure his place in the team and then challenge for the Wales honours which eluded him last season.

The two-time winner of the Argus player-of-the-year trophy missed large chunks of last season with a groin problem which refused to clear up and as a result he was limited to just eight appearances.

That meant the No 8 had to wave goodbye to any chances of gaining international recognition though the Cornishman had qualified on a three-year residency basis in the summer.

Such had been his form that he was talked about as a possibility for last summer’s tour and the autumn internationals, then came the groin trouble which wrecked his season.

But he has been back in full training this summer and makes the squad for Saturday’s challenging pre-season friendly against London Irish at Rodney Parade.

And at some stage – the team is being announced later today – Bearman will have newcomer Robin Sowden-Taylor alongside him making his first appearance in a Dragons jersey.

He joined in the summer from rivals Cardiff Blues and like fellow openside Gavin Thomas will be flat out to regain his national squad place after linking up with the Dragons from another Welsh region.

Lock Luke Charteris has been declared fit and is in the squad to face the powerful London Irish team after recovering from a neck injury, but flanker Dan Lydiate is given another week off and is likely to play against Cardiff Blues next week.

But the Dragons are particularly well blessed in the back row, naming five for tomorrow – Bearman, Sowden-Taylor, Hugo Ellis, Lewis Evans and Andrew Coombs, and that still leaves Lydiate, Gavin Thomas, who should also be back next week, and Toby Faletau whose foot injury will keep him out until October.

And apart from Sowden-Taylor, the Dragons include other new signings Matt Evans, Matthew Jones, Nigel Griffiths, Scott Morgan and Hugo Ellis in their squad while triallist David Bishop also features, the former Ospreys centre having been released by Sale.

His arrival is timely – though he hasn’t been taken on yet – in view of the absence through illness and injury of Matthew Watkins and Ashley Smith while youngsters Adam Hughes and Matthew Pewtner will get their chance in the three-quarter line.

Another player back from long-term injury is prop Phil Price from Bedwas who was shaping up promisingly at the start of last season until a knee injury put him out for the rest of the season.

The Dragons also have plenty of bodies at prop with Hugh Gustafson, recovered from a shoulder operation, Nigel Hall, back from a knee operation, Price, Ben Castle and Pat Palmer, now a fully fledged Dragons player after being on loan from Cardiff Blues, all included in the squad for tomorrow, Ali McKenzie, a new signing 12 months ago, failing to make it.

Dragons squad: M Evans, A Brew, A Hughes, M Pewtner, T Riley, R Gomer Davies, D Bishop, J Tovey, M Jones, W Evans, N Griffiths, H Gustafson, N Hall, P Price, B Castle, P Palmer, T Willis, S Jones, L Burns, S Morgan, A Jones, L Charteris, J Groves, L Evans, J Bearman, H Ellis, A Coombs, R Sowden-Taylor.