LLOYD Fairbrother will start for the Dragons against Bordeaux-Begles tomorrow after a review of training footage allowed the tighthead to escape isolation.
The 29-year-old Cornishman was dramatically pulled out of the matchday squad for last weekend’s Champions Cup opener against Wasps along with fellow tighthead Leon Brown, back row forwards Harri Keddie and Aaron Wainwright, lock Matthew Screech and wing Ashton Hewitt.
Two of the individuals tested positive for coronavirus and the other four were among the Dragons players deemed to have come into close contact with them.
Analysts worked through the night to review training footage to ensure the Wasps game could go ahead.
They have gone back through the film and it has now been deemed that Fairbrother did not pass the limit for contact and has been given the green light for Bordeaux.
"Following a close contact review, that has been approved by Public Health Wales, the tighthead has been released to play," ready a Dragons statement.
Fairbrother will start at tighthead with Aaron Jarvis, who endured a tough time at the scrum against Wasps, on the bench.
Dragons boss Dean Ryan has tinkered with his team for the daunting trip to the Stade Chaban-Delmas (kick-off 8pm), resting centre Jamie Roberts and Wales wing/full-back Jonah Holmes for the festive derbies.
Two more players tested positive this week for coronavirus but the Argus understands that it is a selection decision and the international pair are not affected.
Elliot Dee returns to the starting line-up after Autumn Nations Cup duty at hooker with Fairbrother, lock Joe Davies and blindside Huw Taylor also coming into the pack.
Captain Rhodri Williams is on the bench with Tavis Knoyle starting at scrum-half for the first time since the August fixture at the Ospreys.
Rio Dyer and Jack Dixon replace Holmes and Roberts respectively while exciting prospect Aneurin Owen is poised for his professional debut as a replacement.
Bordeaux are in good shape for the knockout stages courtesy of their late win at Northampton and they make just two changes to their XV.
Powerful France flanker Cameron Woki, man of the match from Franklin's Gardens, starts along with Test teammate Matthieu Jalibert, who pulls the strings from fly-half.
Bordeaux's XV features Argentina wing Santiago Cordero, Australia forwards Kane Douglas and Scott Higginbotham, Kiwi speedster Ben Lam and huge Tongan prop Ben Tameifuna is a replacement.
Ben Botica, brother of former Dragons back Jacob, is on the French club's bench.
Bordeaux-Begles: R Buros, S Cordero, Y Falatea-Moefana, R Lamerat, B Lam, M Jalibert, M Lucu, T Paiva, M Lamothe, V Cobilas, K Douglas, C Cazeaux, C Woki, M Diaby (captain), S Higginbotham.
Replacements: J Dweba, Z El Fakir, B Tameifuna, A Flanquart, M Tauleigne, J Gimbert, B Botica, P Uberti.
Dragons: J Lewis, J Rosser, N Tompkins, J Dixon, R Dyer, S Davies (captain), T Knoyle, B Harris, E Dee, L Fairbrother, J Davies, J Maksymiw, H Taylor, T Basham, L Evans.
Replacements: R Hibbard, C Maguire, A Jarvis, B Carter, J Benjamin, R Williams, A Owen, O Jenkins.
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
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