WILL Reed is the Dragons’ only specialist fly-half until the New Year after Angus O’Brien suffered a broken arm – with boss Dai Flanagan not having the spending power to bring in cover.

The 29-year-old from Caerleon was injured when making a tackle in the second minute of Saturday’s 45-14 loss to Munster in Cork.

O’Brien, who started at full-back, left the field holding his right arm and will now have an operation with an expected recovery time of at least eight weeks.

“He will have surgery this week and be out for a while,” said head coach Flanagan. “It's his forearm and similar to what Dan Lydiate has done in the past and Taulupe Faletau did at the World Cup.

“It's a shame because Angus is hardly every injured and is an important member of our team so we will miss him.”

South Wales Argus: Angus O'Brien in action for the Dragons against EdinburghAngus O'Brien in action for the Dragons against Edinburgh (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The Dragons took a calculated gamble of running with two main options at 10 this season after the departures of JJ Hanrahan and Sam Davies.

O’Brien impressed at 15 for most of 2022/23 but returned to fly-half to compete with promising 22-year-old Reed, who made his 20th professional appearance in Cork.

Wales international Cai Evans was signed from the Ospreys as a full-back but is now second in line at 10, where he played in age-grade rugby.

The Dragons have full-back Jordan Williams and centres Steff Hughes and Aneurin Owen as emergency options.

Reed will pull the strings against Leinster on Sunday with Evans back from Wales duty at full-back.

South Wales Argus: LIVELY: Dragons fly-half Will ReedLIVELY: Dragons fly-half Will Reed (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“There is now an opportunity for others and Will can get a run in the 10 shirt with Cai covering full-back and fly-half,” said Flanagan. “We have planned for this and played Steff Hughes at fly-half in pre-season.

“We know our budget constraints and we only have a certain amount of money to spend. We have a plan and if we were to do something else then I would have to ask the board for a favour.

“As things stand, we have budget constraints and need to plan ahead with what we have got.”

Newport fly-half Jac Lloyd has been training with Flanagan’s squad in Ystrad Mynach after leaving Bristol but the Dragons, for now, are happy to run with Reed, Evans and their emergency options.

“Jac is playing extremely well for Newport and is around us in training every now and then,” said Flanagan, a former fly-half himself.

“He is a talented individual but we would have to question whether the timing would be right to bring someone like that in.

“If there was another injury then it becomes a priority but at the moment we have planned for this and just need to keep our heads down.”