THE British and Irish Cup could prove to be a priceless experience for the young players on the books of Newport Gwent Dragons. The same should be the case for the supporters.

The cross-border competition is serving its purpose since responsibility for taking part in it has been passed on to those based at the Dragons’ training base at Ystrad Mynach.

A squad of academy prospects, fringe players and a smattering of Principality Premiership talent have beaten Connacht and Jersey in challenging conditions to set up a crunch December double-header.

While Lyn Jones’ men take on Pau twice in the European Rugby Challenge Cup, academy boss James Chapron’s crew will plot the downfall of Doncaster in the BIC.

The Knights, who won every game in last season’s tournament until being beaten by Worcester in the final, are the strongest team in the group and possess an imposing pack.

They are sure to present a stiff challenge to the young Dragons – exactly the point of the tournament – and the aim will be to head into January in good shape for the quarter-finals, whether as group winner or runner-up.

Exposing burgeoning talent to games versus professional, well-drilled sides is the reason behind giving the tournament to regional chiefs, who had already dished out a sizeable contingent to Cross Keys in the 2014/15 competition. It would be a invaluable bonus if the likes of Barney Nightingale, Arwel Robson and Leon Brown experience knockout rugby in 2016.

If there’s one grumble to be had then it is that the fixtures, unlike those down the road at Cardiff Blues, are not included on Dragons season tickets.

It would have been a nice touch to allow free entry for those who have shelled out to support Lyn Jones’ side at Rodney Parade but could not make it to Castres and will not be heading to Pau or Salford. Even more so given that this season they don’t have LV= Cup games included.

The Pandy Park attendance at the game against Jersey was smaller than that for Keys versus Ebbw Vale on a wet Wednesday night in the Foster’s Challenge Cup.

Hopefully the absence of television cameras will help swell the crowds at Bridge Field and Eugene Cross Park but the players would benefit from larger numbers backing them while Bedwas and Ebbw Vale would certainly profit at the bar.

And perhaps free, or at least heavily discounted, entry should be extended to Premiership punters. It would certainly call the bluff of those who complain about the Dragons being too Newport-centric.