NATHAN Brew has almost certainly played his last game for Newport Gwent Dragons after suffering a recurrence of his ankle injury during Saturday's 11-try thriller against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.

The Dragons bowed out of the European Challenge Cup at the semi-final stage, going down 46-29, but there was no disgrace against the multi-million pound high-flying French team in the scorching heat as the temperature soared into the 80s.

The Dragons couldn't overcome an early 27-5 deficit, but they gave their hosts a fright as they fought back to 27-19 and were only just shaded in the final try count.

But, already without Colin Charvis, the Dragons have now lost the elder Brew brother, victim of a burst for the line near half-time, which ended with a limp back home on crutches a few hours after the game.

"It's the same injury as the one I had at Christmas," said a disconsolate Brew who was on the sidelines for three months after damaging the ankle against Cardiff Blues.

Considering that he is leaving at the end of the season anyway, bound for Llanelli Scarlets, then clearly his time with the Dragons is as good as over.

That is only one concern for coach Paul Turner, who delivered his beleaguered squad one final pick-me-up talk on arrival back at Cardiff Airport after they had earned plaudits from far and wide for their heroic performance in France.

He has got to lift them again for the final run-in which means they have to play four league games in just ten days starting with Munster in Cork next Saturday and continuing with Cardiff Blues away the following Tuesday, then Connacht and the Ospreys at home on May 4 and 8, respectively.

Already without Charvis, Nathan Brew, Lee Harrison and Craig Warlow, Turner has skipper Kevin Morgan (knee), wing sensation Aled Brew (ankle), outside half Ceri Sweeney (back) and lock Peter Sidoli (wrist) nursing injuries.

Sweeney had to go off near the end against Clermont while Morgan and Aled Brew bravely battled on. Decisions on their fitness will be delayed as long as possible this week.

Meanwhile, the Dragons players have criticised the choice of venue for their European semi-final.

"Why did we have to come here?" asked try scoring prop ace and diver par-excellence Adam Black. "We would have beaten them at home or if the game was played at a neutral venue."

The rules of this tournament, however, mean that, unlike the Heineken Cup, there is no draw for the semi-finals, simply a seeded system whereby one plays four and two plays three with the higher seeds at home.