DRAGONS flanker James Benjamin is leading the Guinness PRO14 tackle charts after being brought back in from the cold at Rodney Parade this season.

The mobile back row forward has been an influential figure under new boss Bernard Jackman, playing in 21 of 24 games in all competitions and sitting out just one league game at Ulster in September.

That comes after the 23-year-old was frozen out in 2016/17 when he made a solitary appearance as a replacement against Worcester in the European Challenge Cup.

Benjamin’s change of fortunes is shown by him being top of the pile for tackles made with 170, three ahead of the Ospreys’ Olly Cracknell, while he also features on the Opta chart for carries, although his tally of 107 is some way back on Cracknell’s 171.

Jack Dixon's defensive prowess is shown by the centre being seventh in the tackle charts with 143 and eighth for turnovers with 9.

Wing Ashton Hewitt is among the league's leaders for defenders beaten with 37, 11 back on Edinburgh's Blair Kinghorn.

Hallam Amos is the region's leading player for metres made with ball in hand on 603 despite playing in just eight league games this term.

The Wales full-back/wing racked up 99 of them in his man-of-the-match performance against Glasgow last week when he carried the ball 13 times and beat five defenders.

The Dragons' tenacious defensive display in that 15-15 draw with the title-chasing Warriors is highlighted by a glut of players being near the top of the round 14 tackle charts.

Captain Harrison Keddie led the way on 20, followed by Benjamin and lock Joe Davies on 18, Dixon and lock Rynard Landman on 17 and loosehead Gerard Ellis on 15 despite the prop only coming on just before half-time.