Challenge Cup

Dragons (5) 29

Tries: Rosser, Owen, Tuitavuki, Paea Cons: De Beer 3 Pen: De Beer

Perpignan (7) 14

Tries: Coulon, Tuilagi Cons: Tedder 2

Dragons started their Challenge Cup campaign with a hard-fought win against Perpignan at Rodney Parade.

Filo Tiatia’s side, semi-finalists in 2025-26, ran in four tries in Newport to edge a scrappy opener, but did not claim a bonus point after this season’s change in rules.

Perpignan led 7-5 after a drab first half by responding to Jared Rosser’s opener with a try from Jules Coulon.

Dragons backs Aneurin Owen and Anzelo Tuitavuki scored either side of a powerful effort by Posolo Tuilagi to secure victory against their French opponents, with Fetuli Paea adding a flourish in the closing stages.

Five tries would have been needed for a bonus due to Perpignan, who are yet to win away from their Stade Aime Giral home this season, scoring twice.

Dragons, with a number of influential players either injured or given a breather before a derby at Ospreys, failed to perform as well as they have at the start of the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Nonetheless, they got the job done to put themselves in a strong position for the last 16 with a pair of fixtures to come in Wales.

In December they face South Africa’s Cheetahs at the redeveloped St Helen’s in Swansea before January fixtures against Bayonne in Newport and Ulster in Belfast.

The win did come at a cost, with loose-head props Rhodri and Wyn Jones going off a week after Argentina international Rodrigo Martinez was injured in defeat by Ospreys.

Dragons made a fast start for Rosser to go over down the left in the fifth minute from a multi-phase attack – moving the wing joint second with Ashton Hewitt on the club’s all-time try chart with 37, six behind Aled Brew – but failed to build on the opener.

Perpignan grew into the game, and their pressure eventually told when flanker Coulon went over from close range approaching the half hour, with full-back Tristan Tedder converting for a 7-5 lead.

The French side dominated possession, territory and chances, and would have been disappointed to only hold a two-point advantage after a low-quality half.

Jac Lloyd had a try chalked off for crossing, and it was Dragons’ turn to waste chances in the 22 after turning down shots at goal.

The driving line-out that has been a potent weapon in the URC was going nowhere, but quick ball off the top did the trick after 55 minutes, centre Owen exploiting weak defence.

The lead was taken away when lock Posolo Tuilagi, whose uncle Anitelea played for Dragons, crashed over, only for Tinus de Beer to kick a penalty to make it 15-14 with quarter of an hour to go.

Dragons finally had breathing space thanks to the South African’s tricky conversion of a close-range finish from Tonga wing Tuitavuki.

He was followed over in the closing stages by compatriot Fetuli Paea, the centre’s first for the club, but they were unable to get another try for a bonus.

Dragons: De Beer; Dyer, Inisi, Owen, Rosser; J Lloyd, Hope; R Jones, Coghlan, O James, Langton-Cryer, Carter (capt), Lewis-Hughes, Beddall, Keddie.

Replacements: Dee, W Jones, Lewis, Screech, Minto, R Williams, F Paea, Tuitavuki.

Perpignan: Tedder; Toganiyadrava, Reece, de la Fuente (capt), Granell; McIntyre, McGrath; Boyer-Gallardo, Malolo, Riccioni, Chinarro, Tanguy, J van Tonder, Coulon, Dvali.

Replacements: Lotrian, Tetrashvili, Amituanai, Velarte, Taty, Tuilagi, Aucagne, Mascarenc.

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Alex Thomas (England), Hamish Grant (England)

TMO: David Rose (England).