Blues V Dragons: Dragons Set For Opener

The Blues draw 9-9 at Donnybrook on Sunday was the first drawn game the region had ever shared in. Cardiff Blues have suffered just one defeat at the Arms Park in all competitions in their last eight matches - when the Scarlets came to town and won 6-0 on 13 March.

The Blues only victory in the eight Welsh Derbies they played last season was when they beat the Ospreys 43-6 at the Arms Park last October.

The Dragons make their bow in this year's Celtic League after receiving a bye last week. They lost the final match of last season in Dublin which snapped a six match winning run in the competition. Newport Gwent Dragons won both matches against the Blues last campaign.

Blues: R Willims; J Vaughton, T Shanklin, T Davies, C Morgan; L Thomas, R Smith; G Jenkins, G Williams, B Evans, C Quinnell, R Sidoli, N Thomas, M Williams (capt), K Schubert.

Replacements: J Yapp, M Leaman, M Jones, D Jones, M Lewis, D Dewdney, N Macleod.

Dragons: K Morgan; G Wyatt, H Luscombe, J Bryant, N Brew; C Sweeney, G Baber; R Snow, S Jones, C Anthony, I Gough, M Owen, J Ringer, J Forster (capt), R Bryan.

Replacements: S Tuipulotu, G Cooper, A Black, J Richards, R Thomas, P Sidoli, R Beattie.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)