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Dragons are looking forward to flying the flag for Wales in Europe when they travel to face Montpellier in the Challenge Cup semi-final on Sunday (12:30 BST).
Filo Tiatia’s side are the only Welsh team left in either of the two European tournaments as they prepare a first semi-final in 10 years.
“I’ve heard a lot of fans from Ospreys, Cardiff and Scarlets are wishing the Dragons all the best,” said Tiatia.
“It’s great being a team from Wales in the semi-finals, there’s a lot of talent not just here but with all the four regions.”
Dragons co-captain and Wales lock Ben Carter says his side feel like they are representing Wales.
“I’ve spoken to a few people that have wished us well from outside that Dragons circle,” said Carter.
“We are looking forward to going out there and sort of showing what we can do.”
Cardiff (three times), Pontypridd and Caerphilly are the only Welsh sides to have reached European finals in the past three decades.
Dragons have achieved three previous Challenge Cup semi-finals with losses to Clermont in 2007 and Edinburgh eight years later.
The previous Challenge Cup semi-final defeat was in 2016 with a 22-12 loss to Montpellier, who went on to win the tournament that year, a feat they repeated five years later.
Hooker Elliot Dee and full-back Angus O’Brien are the only survivors from the squad in 2016 that will be involved this weekend.
“There’s new experiences for everyone and we’re excited about the possibility of earning another week in this tournament,” said Tiatia.
“It’s a special occasion and there’s a few players in our squad that haven’t been in semi-finals.”
Carter says the Dragons need to produce their best performance of the season to reach the final in Bilbao on 22 May.
“We need turn up with the right mindset because everyone in the squad genuinely believes we can go out there and get a result,” said Carter.
“That would be brilliant and the furthest I’ve ever gone in a competition, so that’s the aim.”
Montpellier will be firm favourites as they currently sit third in the Top 14 league in France and celebrated an away win against Champions Cup holders Bordeaux-Begles last weekend.
“They’re going well,” said Tiatia.
“They’ve got a very good mauling forward pack, and they love to get in at 22, and are very direct.
“They’ve also got backs that can strike from anywhere.
“We understand the challenge ahead of us. We will be playing on their home turf, going to their town, playing in front of their crowd and they’re going to be screaming and telling us we are not going to get over the line.
“We’re up for a challenge, trying to impose our game and come Sunday have a scrap.”
How they line up
Dragons name wing David Richards in the starting side, while Dee is preferred to Brodie Coghlan at hooker.
Montpellier include Wales lock Adam Beard in their pack but former England number eight Billy Vunipola is not involved.
There will be a fascinating contest between Wales rivals Carter and Beard with the Dragons skipper replacing the former Ospreys lock in Steve Tandy’s starting side during the Six Nations.
Carter dismissed this theory, saying: “It’s Dragons against Montpellier. Nothing else.”
Montpellier: Banks; Taofifenua, Cadot, Anyanwu, Rates; Vincent, Bernadet; Erdocio, Riccitelli, Welsch, Beard, DuGuid, Tauleigne, Becognee, Nouchi (capt).
Replacements: Akrab, Abuladze, Haouas, Y Camara, Masibaka, Baraer, Miotti, Darmon.
Dragons: O’Brien (cc); Richards, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; de Beer, Armstrong; Martinez, Dee, Coleman, Douglas, Carter (co-capt), Woodman, Young, Wainwright.
Replacements: Coghlan, W Jones, D Lewis, S Davies, Keddie, M Lloyd, Paea, Anderson.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Filippo Russo (Italy)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland).
