BACKS coach Barry Maddocks has stressed the importance of a good start for the Dragons at Glasgow Warriors on Saturday night (kick-off 7.35pm) after more than a month without any rugby.

The Welsh region head to Scotstoun Stadium for their first game since they secured a European Challenge Cup quarter-final berth by thrashing Enisei-STM on January 17.

Hosts Glasgow hammered Sale Sharks in the Champions Cup the following day and played Guinness PRO14 strugglers Zebra last Friday as the Dragons’ clash with Benetton was postponed.

Despite the lack of game time, Maddocks says the Rodney Parade outfit have been doing their best to keep things fresh in training, including a joint session with Cardiff Blues.

But with Glasgow’s expansive style, and the fact they are that touch more match sharp, Maddocks knows the visitors can’t afford to be slow out of the blocks.

“We’ve had some good blocks of training," he said.

"It has been good for us to get some recovery in for some of the boys to get them back into the frame too.

“We missed out last week which is a shame as we were ready for a game, but we go again this week.

“It’s been a bit like a mini pre-season block for us. We kept the intensity of sessions up there and have been fortunate to go to Cardiff Blues for a training session to get some physicality.

“We did some unit sessions and tried a few things out.

"You get so used to defending like we do and attacking like we do, so when we flip it with a change-up it stimulates the players.

“We did a team session and got the physicality in. We did sessions that were eight to 10 minutes at most, and it is going at each other full-on.”

He added: “We’ve tried to change things up in order to make sure we’re as best prepared as we can be.

“Glasgow are obviously a very good side, they’ve proven that over a number of years, and we’re expecting a high tempo game, that’s the way they play.

“It’s really important we start well and feel like we’re in the game from the off.

“They had a game last week so we are probably a little bit behind in terms of game time, but we’re really hoping the training gets us going early on.”

The game in Glasgow will be the Dragons’ first in the league since the 25-18 victory over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade on January 4.

Meanwhile, the Dragons Community team have linked up with Sporting Memories Wales to use the power of sport to engage people living with dementia, depression or who are socially isolated.

Sporting Memories Wales work with communities and organisations to promote the mental and physical wellbeing of people over 50.

As well as reminiscing about sport and allowing group members to tell their stories through sporting memories, the clubs include exercise and the playing of accessible sports to increase physical activity.

The Dragons Community team – in association with Newport County AFC's County in the Community team– are launching a weekly club at Rodney Parade.

The first session is on Thursday, February 27 between 10am and noon and then every Thursday after.

Anyone interested in attending the club should call Gareth Sullivan on 07887242409 or email gareth.sullivan@dragonsrugby.wales