CENTRE Adam Hughes returns straight to Newport Gwent Dragons’ starting XV for tomorrow’s clash with Treviso (kick-off 7.15pm) after penning a three-month loan deal.
The 25-year-old has returned to Rodney Parade from Exeter and slots into midfield alongside Adam Warren for the home Guinness Pro12 encounter, one of five changes to the starting line-up that lost 29-15 at champions Glasgow last weekend.
Luc Jones is rewarded for two lively displays off the bench with a start at scrum-half and Nick Scott replaces Aled Brew, who has been troubled by a calf injury, on the left wing.
Matthew Screech and Cory Hill are paired in the second row in the absence of the suspended Nick Crosswell and Rynard Landman, who is only fit for the bench after suffering a chest injury.
Dorian Jones is back from a groin injury to be among the replacements where there are once again two scrum-halves – Sarel Pretorius and Charlie Davies, the latter of whom came on in midfield at Scotstoun Stadium.
Treviso field Luke McLean at fly-half rather than his usual full-back and he is joined in the starting line-up by fellow Italy World Cup squad members hooker Davide Giazzon, lock Marco Fuser, flanker Francesco Minto and centre Enrico Bacchin while international prop Alberto De Marchi is among the replacements.
Former England lock Tom Palmer starts and is backed up by former Cardiff Blues lock Filo Paulo but influential scrum-half Edoardo Gori and openside Alessandro Zanni are not involved.
Dragons: C Meyer, A Hewitt, A Hughes, A Warren, N Scott, J Tovey, L Jones, B Stankovich, E Dee, B Harris, M Screech, C Hill, L Evans (captain), N Cudd, E Jackson. Replacements: R Buckley, P Price, S Knight, R Landman, O Griffiths, S Pretorius, D Jones, C Davies.
Treviso: J Hayward, L Nitoglia, T Iannone, E Bacchin, S Ragusi, L McLean, C Smylie, M Zanusso, D Giazzon (captain), R Harden, M Fuser, T Palmer, F Minto, D Budd, A Steyn. Replacements: L Bigi, A De Marchi, S Ferrari, F Paulo, J Montauriol, F Barbieri, A Lucchese, A Pratichetti.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
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