FORWARDS coach Ceri Jones has challenged Newport Gwent Dragons' young talent to give the senior management team another nudge by shining for the Premiership Select XV when they are reunited with Yorkshire Carnegie this weekend.

The Dragons young guns were downed 20-17 in Pontefract last weekend, their third loss on the spin in the British and Irish Cup after scoring four tries when beaten 46-33 by Bedford and having to settle for a bonus point from their home clash with Ealing Trailfinders.

They will attempt to break their duck when they host the side formerly known as Leeds on the plastic pitch in Ystrad Mynach on Saturday afternoon.

The experience of going up against powerful English Championship sides is invaluable for a side that had an average age of 21 last weekend but there are also a smattering of players aiming for more senior rugby, notably James Benjamin with the flanker scoring two tries on his return from a fractured leg.

"It's great to see 'Jumbo' back and scoring tries because it was a horrible injury and there are a few players in that British and Irish Cup team really starting to put their hands up," said Jones.

"(Dragons lock) Joe Davies has been playing really well for Bedwas, I've been going through his games and against Cross Keys he was outstanding and really physical. It's great to see and that's what gives you the strength and depth in your squad."

The Dragons are highly unlikely to make it through to the knockout stages but Jones has hailed the tenacious performances of the squad against full-time and experienced opposition.

"There's an exciting pool of talent coming through and being given a chance at that level is great," said the former Worcester academy coach.

"They are up against big English sides that are very strong at the set piece and are having to step up and perform.

"The guys are giving a good account of themselves and I am thoroughly looking forward to the game on Saturday and them putting their hands up again, then we've got to create opportunities for them to play then.

"It's a chance for them to shine and if you look at the age bracket of our (first) team it's not old, we are developing those boys really well and that's credit to the academy.

"We've given opportunities to play, I don't think anybody can question that – look at Harrison Keddie, Leon Brown, Ollie Griffiths, Angus O'Brien, the list goes on and that's a massive plus."

- The Dragons have been given several dates for the second half of their Guinness Pro12 campaign.

They head to Cork on the eve of Wales versus England in the Six Nations to face Munster on Friday, February 10 (kick-off 7.35pm) and travel back over to Ireland the following weekend to face Connacht on Saturday, February 18 (kick-off 7.35pm).

Leinster visit Rodney Parade on Friday, February 24 (kick-off TBC) – the night before Wales face Scotland at Murrayfield – and they have a Saturday afternoon kick-off at Glasgow on March 4.