LEON Brown’s hopes of a place on Wales’ summer tour have been dashed after the Dragons suffered a double injury blow with the tighthead prop and centre Jack Dixon ruled out of the Guinness PRO14 run-in.

The Rodney Parade region welcome the Cheetahs to Newport on Friday before an Italian double-header against Benetton and Zebre then a Judgement Day finale with the Scarlets at Principality Stadium.

Their bid for a first league success since September has been hindered by the loss of Wales tighthead Brown and influential centre Dixon after blows suffered in the humiliating drubbing by the previously winless Southern Kings a fortnight ago.

Prop Brown, who won three caps in the autumn, suffered a toe injury that doesn’t need surgery but requires 12 weeks of rehab.

That means the 21-year-old, who missed out on the Six Nations because of a concussion suffered against New Zealand in November, will not be available to force his way back into Warren Gatland’s squad for the June Tests against South Africa and Argentina.

Strong-running Dixon went off early in Port Elizabeth with an elbow injury that means he will go under the knife and be out for four months.

There is better news regarding flanker Ollie Griffiths, who withdrew in the warm-up against the Kings because of a thigh injury. The once-capped Wales international should be fit to be in contention against the Cheetahs.

Full-back Carl Meyer, who has featured just seven times this season because of a groin injury, could return for the run-in but his compatriot Pat Howard’s Dragons career is likely to be over with the wing/centre a fortnight into six to eight weeks of rehab after a hamstring injury.

DRAGONS INJURY LIST

Tightheads

Brok Harris (shoulder):  Continues his rehabilitation from surgery and will be fit to participate fully in pre-season training.

Chris Coleman (shoulder): Continues his rehabilitation from surgery and is expected back in April 2018.  Has started scrummaging and contact progressions.

Leon Brown (toe): Following his assessment Dragons medical staff have concluded that he has ruptured a ligament which does not require surgery, but he will require conservative rehabilitation of around 12 weeks.

LOCK

Ashley Sweet (spine): Continues his rehabilitation from surgery.

Matthew Screech (hamstring): Currently recovering from surgery and will be fit to participate fully in pre-season training.

James Sheekey (wrist): Surgery planned for Monday and will take 4-5 months to get back to full fitness.

BACK-ROW

James Thomas (knee): Continues his rehabilitation from surgery.  His review with the specialist was positive and we hope to see functional progress in the next 8-12 weeks.

Ollie Griffiths (thigh: Made a positive return from his ankle injury but sustained an Adductor injury in South Africa however he is expected to be available for the Toyota Cheetahs match.

Nic Cudd (knee): Currently rehabilitating well and progressing with his running drills. Expected to fully participate in pre-season training.

HALF-BACK

Tavis Knoyle (knee and wrist): Rehabilitating his knee injury and recovering from a wrist operation which will see him out of action until May 2018.

Gavin Henson (hamstring): Suffered a nasty avulsion injury which is likely to see him out for the season.

Arwell Robson (ankle): Integrating into training this week with a view to assessing his fitness for Cheetahs.

CENTRE

Adam Hughes (concussion): Continues his rehabilitation from this recurrent injury.

Jack Dixon (elbow): Ruptured a ligament during the Southern Kings game.  Has a review with a surgeon to determine the need for surgery.  Expected to require surgery and a return to sport of 4 months.

Pat Howard (hamstring): Two weeks into 6-8 weeks of rehabilitation.  Unlikely to make a return this season.

BACK-THREE

Tyler Morgan (foot): Had surgery three weeks ago and is rehabbing hard with a predicted return to sport of around 5 months.

George Gasson (ankle and knee): Continues his rehabilitation from surgery.  Has started his running progressions and his response to this will determine his predicted return to sport.

Carl Meyer (groin): Suffered a recurrence in his injury from earlier this season. Rehabilitating well and expected to push for the final games of the season.