THE Dragons will take on the Scarlets in a friendly at Rodney Parade to prepare for the return of the United Rugby Championship.

The fixture in Newport will take place on Friday, November 12 (kick-off 2pm), billed as Dragons A against a Scarlets Development XV.

Dean Ryan's men finished the first block of URC fixtures when beaten by Cardiff at the Arms Park last weekend and are next in action after the autumn internationals.

They entertain Edinburgh on Saturday, November 27 (kick-off 5.15pm) before heading to Scotland to face Glasgow the following Saturday (kick-off 7.35pm).

The Dragons have five players with Wales for the autumn Tests – locks Will Rowlands and Ben Carter and back row forwards Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham and Aaron Wainwright – and the rest of the squad have been on holiday this week.

Ryan's coaching team will use the Scarlets fixture to ramp up the preparations for Edinburgh and are mindful that plenty of players have not got many minutes in the URC.

The Dragons fielded a settled side in their opening block, leading to the likes of Owen Jenkins, Ioan Davies, Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Dan Babos, Ellis Shipp, Aaron Jarvis, Huw Taylor and Dan Baker being fringe figures.

South Wales Argus:

"We are also looking at if we can create something in-house and if we can create some opportunities because we have a lot of players who aren't playing enough," admitted the director of rugby.

"We are communicating with some of our [Premiership] clubs about what that might look like because we might struggle to get a full roster up.

"We need to get some game time for those players who haven't played enough rugby so that they are ready to come out and play come December."

Dragons academy talent has been impressing in the Premiership Cup for Newport and Ebbw Vale, plus fly-half Evan Lloyd and hooker Brodie Coghlan have been sent to RGC for game time.

That competition returns next weekend and the league gets under way in December. The Admiral National Championship starts on November 13.

"Second team rugby and an appropriate amount of games is a dilemma for everybody. If you look to share those transition players with others you end up on a collision course around their availability," said Ryan.

"It's a difficult challenge. The Premiership is right for some players but there are players who get caught in that space where it's not."

Back row forward turned hooker James Benjamin has been playing for Cornish Pirates on loan in the English Championship while tighthead Luke Yendle is with Jersey.

Entry to the Scarlets friendly is free for season ticket holders, £5 for adults and concessions and free for juniors.

Only the Bisley Stand will be open for the game and seating is unreserved with gates opening at 1pm.

Covid passes will not be needed for the fixture because it is a seated crowd of under 10,000.

The Dragons go from the Scottish double-header into the start of their European Challenge Cup campaign.

Ryan's men start against Perpignan at the Stade Aime Giral on Saturday, December 11 before facing Lyon at Rodney Parade the following Friday (kick-off 8pm).