GAVIN Henson has got the nod at fly-half for the Dragons’ Guinness PRO14 opener with Benetton – while Richard Hibbard gets the start ahead of Wales hooker Elliot Dee.

Former Wales and Lions playmaker Henson did not start in pre-season after being troubled by a knee injury but he gets the 10 jersey for the opener at Rodney Parade thanks to an impressive cameo at Gloucester last week.

Henson impressed as the Dragons rallied late on in the 40-31 loss at Kingsholm and his assured display means that he pips Josh Lewis for the vital first league game in a month that also sees Southern Kings and Zebre head to Newport.

Hibbard also holds onto the 2 jersey after Dee, the region’s player of 2017/18, returned late following his summer exertions with Wales.

Bernard Jackman has also opted for Ryan Bevington at loosehead ahead of influential South African Brok Harris while Jack Dixon, who missed the Gloucester clash with flu, returns at inside centre.

Eight players are set for their debuts – full-back Jordan Williams, wing Dafydd Howells, scrum-half Rhodri Williams, Bevington, Hibbard and lock Brandon Nansen in the XV and flanker Huw Taylor and Lewis from the bench.

The Dragons’ matchday squad features 15 internationals – 12 starters in Howells, centre Tyler Morgan, wing Hallam Amos, Henson, Rhodri Williams, Bevington, Hibbard, tighthead Leon Brown, locks Brandon Nansen and Cory Hill, back row forwards Aaron Wainwright and Ollie Griffiths plus Dee, Tavis Knoyle and Adam Warren among the replacements.

Dragons: J Williams, D Howells, T Morgan, J Dixon, H Amos, G Henson, R Williams, R Bevington, R Hibbard, L Brown, B Nansen, C Hill (captain), L Evans, A Wainwright, O Griffiths. Replacements: E Dee, B Harris, L Fairbrother, M Screech, H Taylor, T Knoyle, J Lewis, A Warren.

Benetton: J Hayward, R Tavuyara, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi, M Ioane, T Allan, T Tebaldi, F Zani, H Faiva, T Pasquali, A Zanni, D Budd (captain), A Steyn, S Negri, M Barnini. Replacements: E Makelara, D Appiah, S Ferrari, M Fuser, F Ruzza, M Lazzaroni, G Bronzini, T Iannone.​

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)