HOOKER Rhys Lawrence will start for the Dragons XV in the Celtic Cup fixture at Leinster rather than for the seniors at Munster.

The 31-year-old front rower had been hoping to back-up Richard Hibbard in the Guinness PRO14 opener at Thomond Park but will instead feature in Ireland’s capital.

The Dragons lost 43-31 to Ulster in Ystrad Mynach last week and make nine changes are made for the clash at Donnybrook against the champions, who have won all five of this season's fixtures with bonus points after enjoying a clean sweep of triumphs when lifting the trophy in 2018.

Lawrence is joined in the front row by promising props Josh Reynolds and Chris Coleman while James Sheekey, who has been plagued by injuries since signing from Cardiff RFC in October, 2017, forms a second-row partnership with Newport RFC’s Dan Partridge.

Ben Roach continues to captain the side from the back row, where he is joined by Ben Fry and Garin Price.

Fly-half Arwel Robson continues his comeback after nine months out with knee ligament damage with Dan Babos his half-back partner.

Aneurin Owen and Tom Hoppe join forces in midfield while James McCarthy and Carwyn Penny return in the back three, joining speedster Rio Dyer.

Head coach Luke Narraway said: “Leinster are undefeated in the Celtic Cup so we know the size of the challenge we face, but it’s important we relish that test and respond in the right way to last week’s defeat to Ulster.

“We’ve challenged the players to learn the lessons from last weekend and firmly believe this kind of game has come at the right time for us in the competition.”

The Dragons have won just one game – a six-try thumping of Munster in Newport – but have picked up six bonus points from their five fixtures.

They finish their campaign against the Ospreys in Ystrad Mynach next weekend.

Dragons XV (v Leinster A): C Penny, R Dyer, T Hoppe, A Owen, J McCarthy; A Robson, D Babos; J Reynolds, R Lawrence, C Coleman, J Sheekey, D Partridge, B Fry, B Roach (captain), G Price.

Replacements: W Griffiths, D Bartlett, L Yendle,B Carter, B Hoppe, D Buckland, O Lewis, J Goodchild.