NEWPORT Gwent Dragons will give late fitness tests to at least five players ahead of Saturday’s European Rugby Challenge Cup trip to Castres Olympique, with star man Taulupe Faletau given a 50-50 chance of playing.

Wales and British & Irish Lions ace Faletau failed a fitness test on his knee injury before last week’s 30-12 victory over Sale Sharks in the same competition.

He could also sit out the trip to southern France, while props Boris Stankovich and Brok Harris and back rows Ed Jackson and Lewis Evans are also doubtful.

Director of rugby Lyn Jones said: “We’ve had a lot of wounds to lick since Sunday and we’re waiting on a lot of players to pass fitness tests.

“We have lots of niggles at the moment – Stankovich, Harris, Faletau, Jackson and Lewis Evans to name a few.

“They are five key players for us so it just hampers our preparation, really.

“Going into the week we wanted to build momentum on the back of a positive performance against Sale last weekend.

“We’re likely to make one or two changes unfortunately,” he added.

“With Toby it’s 50-50. We’re not going to play him unless he’s feeling comfortable in himself.

“He has a knee injury, which is not serious, but we don’t want to make it serious.”

Jones also paid tribute to Jonah Lomu following the announcement that the New Zealand legend has died at the age of 40 – just five months after fellow All Blacks great Jerry Collins.

“It’s a very tragic year – we’ve lost a lot of great people in 2015 – and it’s a very sad day for rugby union, apart from Jonah’s family and the nation of New Zealand,” said Jones.

“His impact on the game was immense. He revolutionised rugby, just like Ian Botham did for cricket in the 1980s and Usain Bolt did for athletics.

“His legacy is going to live on forever and he inspired a generation of rugby players, which is a lot to be proud of.”

Dragons’ Kiwi lock Nick Crosswell grew up watching Lomu and played against him back home in New Zealand in 2006.

“It is a big loss. Growing up in New Zealand he was an idol for all of us,” said Crosswell.

“I remember watching the 1995 World Cup and he was phenomenal.

“He was also just a good all-round bloke and the rugby world will definitely miss him.

“I was lucky enough to play against him a few years back when he came back to play for North Harbour in the provincial competitions.

“For us guys who looked up to him it was a pretty special moment.

“It was an experience and to say you played against Jonah is pretty cool.

“He was a great ambassador for the game and his legacy carries round the world.”