JAMES Benjamin will make his first start for the Dragons as a hooker in Sunday’s United Rugby Championship clash with the Lions.
The 28-year-old has been named in the XV for the encounter in Johannesburg (kick-off 2pm) in the absence of Bradley Roberts, who will join the South African tour party next week after Wales duty, and Elliot Dee, who is out until next year after surgery on a broken collarbone and a knee clean-out.
Benjamin will make his 72nd appearance for the Rodney Parade club but it will be his first with 2 on his back.
He switched to hooker from the back row in 2020 and the talented footballer has got experience from loans in the English Championship with Cornish Pirates and Hartpury.
The Wales Sevens international has made six Dragons outings as a replacement in the front row and has got the nod ahead of Ellis Shipp.
Head coach Dai Flanagan makes four other changes to the XV that beat Zebre 47-7 at the end of October.
Sio Tomkinson is back from a shoulder injury and, after impressing in midfield, makes a first start on the wing in place of Jared Rosser, who hasn’t travelled with the initial tour party because of a shoulder niggle.
Jack Dixon returns at inside centre while Ben Fry comes in for injured captain Harri Keddie in the back row, with Ross Moriarty skippering the team in his absence.
Lewis Jones starts at scrum-half, with youngster Che Hope in line for a debut off the bench because Rhodri Williams has a foot injury and Gonzalo Bertranou is being rested after his Test exertions with Argentina.
Shipp and loosehead Josh Reynolds are set for first appearances of the season as replacements while Matthew Screech is included on the bench after returning from Cardiff on loan until the end of the season.
The Dragons’ squad is stretched because of hooker Roberts, wing Rio Dyer, loosehead Rhodri Jones and lock Ben Carter are on Wales duty while their injury list features captain Will Rowlands, Taine Basham, Ollie Griffiths, Elliot Dee, Rob Evans and George Nott.
Wing Ashton Hewitt and tighthead Leon Brown are in the touring party to continue their comebacks from ankle and shoulder injuries respectively with next weekend’s clash with the Stormers the target.
Dragons: Angus O’Brien; David Richards, Steff Hughes, Jack Dixon, Sio Tomkinson; Sam Davies, Lewis Jones; Aki Seiuli, James Benjamin, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Sean Lonsdale, Aaron Wainwright, Ben Fry, Ross Moriarty (captain).
Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Josh Reynolds, Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, Huw Taylor, C Hope, JJ Hanrahan, Jordan Williams.
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