THE Dragons will host Northampton Saints in the last 16 of the European Challenge Cup on Holy Saturday.

The region will return to Newport to entertain the Saints at Rodney Parade after finishing their Guinness PRO14 campaign at Principality Stadium to allow work on the pitch to take place.

Dean Ryan’s men dropped down into the second-tier tournament from the Champions Cup and will host Northampton on Saturday, April 3 (kick-off 5.30pm).

The Welsh-English clash will be broadcast live on S4C as well as BT Sport with the winners going on to host either Harlequins or Ulster, who play the following evening.

The quarter-final dates are yet to be confirmed but take place the following weekend.

The Dragons were hammered twice by the Saints in the 2018/19 tournament, losing 35-21 in Newport before losing 48-14 in the Midlands in what turned out to be Bernard Jackman's last game in charge.

Ryan's side dropped into the second tier tournament after losing to Wasps and Bordeaux-Begles in the Champions Cup, which was brought to a premature end when January group fixtures were cancelled.

Northampton were edged out by Bordeaux at home before losing 35-19 against Leinster in Dublin.

Newport County AFC are away at Barrow the afternoon before the last-16 clash and host Bolton on Bank Holiday Monday.