THE Dragons will open their European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign with a clash against Newcastle in the north east of England.

The Rodney Parade side, semi-finalists in 2015 and 2016, then face a trip to Moscow to face Enisei-STM in round two.

There is no December double-header as the Russians visit Newport in round three with Newcastle heading to Rodney Parade the following weekend.

Bernard Jackman's side instead end with back-to-back games against Bordeaux-Begles in January, a trip to France followed by a finale in Newport.

The Dragons will travel to Russia with revenge in mind after suffering a humbling 38-18 in Krasnodar last October. A late brace by Harri Keddie earned a bonus point in a 34-10 success in Newport.

They faced the Falcons in the Challenge Cup in 2014/15 losing to the English club at Rodney Parade before a stunning 40-29 victory at Kingston Park earned a place in the quarter-finals.

The Dragons went up against Bordeaux in 2013/14, beating the French side comprehensively 40-24 in Newport before being overpowered 32-13 in France the following weekend.

Dragons fixtures
Round one: Newcastle (away) - Saturday, October 14 (3pm)
Round two: Enisei-STM (away) - Saturday, October 21
Round three: Enisei-STM (home) - Friday, December 8 (7.15pm)
Round four: Newcastle (home) - Friday, December 15 (7.30pm)
Round five: Bordeaux-Begles (away) - January 11-14 (TBC)
Round six: Bordeaux-Begles (home) - January 18-21 (TBC)

Quarter-finals: 29/30/31 March - 1 April 2018
Semi-finals: 20/21/22 April 2018

2018 Bilbao Finals
Challenge Cup final: Friday 11 May, San Mamés Stadium
Champions Cup final: Saturday 12 May, San Mamés Stadium