NEWPORT Gwent Dragons Premiership Select XV boss James Chapron says their British and Irish Cup clash with Bedford Blues is no dead rubber because there are contracts to be earned, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Dragons finish their campaign by welcoming the English Championship side to Bedwas' Bridge Field tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 2pm).

They have recorded just one win in the tournament, an excellent last-gasp win against Yorkshire Carnegie, but have put in three encouraging displays in defeat.

Last week, however, they let standards slip when hammered 56-19 at Ealing Trailfinders.

"The first thing that we have to look at is seeing how the players bounce back from what was a poor performance last weekend," said academy manager Chapron.

"I think if they have aspirations to move forward in their careers then they have to learn from bad events and learn how to fix them.

"It's an opportunity as everyone in that squad has something to play for, regardless of the result, on personal levels.

"For the academy boys it's about their next steps and contracts, and for the semi-professional boys it's seeing if anyone else can do what Robson Blake and Ashley Sweet have done (in earning full-time contracts).

"Then for the senior boys, the coaches are going to watch the game so they have to perform at that level if they want to break back into the starting team.

"The result is important but the whole point of the BIC is to provide opportunities for players at a higher level of competition and see how they perform and we have another opportunity to do that this weekend."

The Dragons' tries in Ealing came from centres Connor Edwards and Barney Nightingale and lock Henri Williams.

They name their side this afternoon but will be without last week's captain Craig Mitchell as the former Wales prop is travelling to Brive for the Challenge Cup fixtures.

Bedford, who have also been eliminated from the BIC, won the round one fixture against the Dragons 46-33 with Chapron's side scrapping for a bonus point thanks to tries by fly-half Arwel Robson, full-back Will Talbot-Davies, Nightingale and wing Pat Lewis.