NEWPORT — Dragons flanker Ryan Woodman has been ruled out until late December after suffering a bicep injury that requires surgery on Friday. The 22-year-old former Wales Under-20s captain will miss the chance to push for selection in Wales' Nations Championship campaign in November.
Blind-side flanker Woodman, who can also play lock, was called up to the Six Nations squad for the injured Taine Plumtree last season and came on as a replacement in June's uncapped international against the Barbarians at Twickenham before missing out on the Nations Championship summer squad. "Ryan has seen a specialist and will go for surgery on Friday, then get under way with his recovery," said Dragons defence coach Dale MacLeod. Woodman started the 19-19 draw against Benetton in the United Rugby Championship and came on as a replacement in the 38-26 victory against Scarlets, and will now target a return for the back-to-back derbies against Cardiff on 19 and 26 December before the 2 January trip to Scarlets.
"Anyone of that quality is a big loss, and it's a big year for him as part of that Welsh group building towards the World Cup," MacLeod continued. "The good thing is that he is not gone for 12 months; he'll work hard and get back to where he needs to be." Shane Lewis-Hughes has started the last two games at blind-side flanker while Dragons wait for new signing Terrell Peita to arrive from New Zealand. The versatile back-row forward is currently playing for Northland in the National Provincial Championship and is due to arrive in the break for the Nations Championship.
Dragons open their Challenge Cup campaign at home to Perpignan on Friday (20:00 BST) before finishing the first block of the URC against Ospreys at St Helen's and Zebre in Newport, with head coach Filo Tiatia to name his side to face Perpignan on Thursday. Perpignan have won all three home games and lost all three away in the Top 14. Dragons are poised to be without several props, as tight-head Rob Hunt suffered an elbow injury in the defeat by Ospreys and is still being assessed amid fears of a lengthy lay-off, while his replacement Chris Coleman suffered a head injury and is going through return-to-play protocols. Wales prop Dillon Lewis is back in the selection mix with Owain James the other specialist option at tight-head, although loose-heads Rhodri and Wyn Jones have previously played there, while Argentina loose-head Rodrigo Martinez went off in the early stages against Ospreys but it is hoped his shoulder injury is not serious.