NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Nick Wakley has demanded that his side come flying out of the blocks after naming his squad for Friday's Welsh leg of the Singha Premiership 7s.

The Dragons are defending their crown in the tournament after triumphing against their Welsh rivals in Cardiff in 2015 and then stunning Wasps to win the title at the Twickenham Stoop.

The Rodney Parade side call on seven players who played a part in last summer's triumph – captain Geraint Rhys Jones, Harri Keddie, James Benjamin, Aviva Premiership 7s player of the year Elliot Frewen, Jonny Lewis, Arwel Robson and Luc Jones.

First teamers Aled Brew and Ross Wardle also feature along with new hooker Darran Harris, who previously played in the tournament for the Scarlets. Wales international Ethan Davies provides extra experience while Ebbw Vale wing Chris Levesley is a new face.

The Dragons have proved themselves to be a fine sevens side since joining the tournament in 2014, finishing as runners-up to Gloucester on their debut and then going all the way last August.

But Wakley has reminded his charges that they needed to dig themselves out of a hole on their way to the silverware after losing their opener against the Scarlets 24-19.

"We were pushed to the limit last year after losing the first game. We need to have a much better start this year because to lose your opener in a three-game tournament puts you up against it," said the Ebbw Vale backs coach.

"We need to start well and grow into the tournament and we will give the Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets the respect they are due.

"However, the focus will be on ourselves and what we can do because that's worked for us over the last two years.

"It's very easy to over-analyse sevens and our defensive systems are simple but effective, as we showed at the finals last year. We kept the ball for large periods of time and when we didn't have it the guys fought like hell to get it back."

The tournament starts with the clash between the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues at 7pm with the Dragons facing the Ospreys at 7.25pm, Cardiff Blues at 8.20pm and Scarlets at 8.50pm.

For the third year running the Dragons have been given back-to-back games while the hosts enjoy a break after each fixture.

"Back-to-back games is brutal and I'm annoyed about us having that again," admitted Wakley. "But that's something for me to vent about and I'll get the players focused and make sure they can control the controllables."

Wakely has established himself as one of the finest coaches on the sevens circuit through his work with the Samurai invitational side and believes the seven-man game provides a great opportunity for his squad to catch the eye of head coach Kingsley Jones and his management team.

"I love the game," said the former utility back. "It gave me one of my first breaks in rugby, playing for Wales 7s when brought in by a legend Colin Hillman.

"I've been a player and a coach and 7s is an incredible development tool, it's the raw basics of rugby and a great spectator sport.

"It's great in terms of the development of players and the same goes for coaching, I am really appreciative of people saying I have got a good reputation in 7s but I also want that to be said for my 15s work with Ebbw Vale."

Dragons squad: Geraint Rhys Jones (captain), Ross Wardle, Darran Harris, Harrison Keddie, Aled Brew, Ethan Davies, James Benjamin, Elliot Frewen, Jonny Lewis, Arwel Robson, Chris Levesley, Luc Jones