Dragons speedster Rio Dyer to miss rest of season

The 20-year-old was forced off in the second half of the Rodney Parade region’s European Challenge Cup win against Enisei-STM last month.

Scans have revealed significant damage to his right shoulder and the winger is not going to feature in the rest of the campaign.

BRIGHT PROSPECT: Dragons wing Rio Dyer

Dyer made a huge impact after a late call-up to the matchday squad for the January 4 derby against the Ospreys, when he was named man of the match and scored the try that put the Dragons level before Adam Warren's late winner.

That blow in the back three is countered by good news over full-back Will Talbot-Davies, who doesn’t need an operation on the wrist injury suffered against the Ospreys.

The 22-year-old was deputising for Jordan Williams – who is out for the season after rupturing knee ligaments – and is now eyeing a return in March ahead of the European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Bristol.

Director of rugby Dean Ryan received another boost with the rapid return from a serious elbow injury of wing Dafydd Howells.

It was feared that he would be out for most of the season after being forced off against Zebre in November but he is back in training and in contention for the Guinness PRO14 clash with Benetton at Rodney Parade a week on Saturday.

Scrum-half Rhodri Williams and forwards Lewis Evans, Brandon Nansen and Nic Cudd are also back in training while wing Ashton Hewitt and back rower Ollie Griffiths are fit again after niggles.

Dragons stalwart Cudd has been out of action since the flanker ruptured knee ligaments in training last February.

Centre Tyler Morgan suffered a hamstring injury when scoring the bonus-point try against Enisei but is set to return to training soon, along with hooker Richard Hibbard and wing Owen Jenkins.