DRAGONS boss Dean Ryan says it would be a "travesty" if Taine Basham is hit with a lengthy ban after his red card for a dangerous tackle at Worcester last weekend.

The director of rugby will accompany the 20-year-old from Talywain to a European Professional Club Rugby disciplinary hearing in London tomorrow.

Back rower Basham was dismissed in the 20th minute of the 34-28 Challenge Cup defeat to the Warriors in Sixways.

After chasing a kick the Dragons forward hit Gareth Simpson strongly, lost control of the tackle and dumped the Worcester back on his upper arm.

Italian official Marius Mitrea, who did not have the help of a television match official, consulted with one of his touch judges and showed red to Basham.

The Dragons will present their case in front of a three-man panel with the punishment for a low-end dangerous tackle being two weeks, mid-range being six and top-end 10 to 52 weeks.

Ryan is hopeful that he will not be without the dynamic youngster for a busy period that features Friday's return clash with Worcester and then festive derbies against the Scarlets, Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys.

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"These things happen and it's part of Taine's journey. He has been going up at a hell of a trajectory and whatever happens at the disciplinary it will still have been a dent for him," said the director of rugby.

"He put himself in a situation and caused the team a situation off the back of that. We are all with Taine, we don't believe it should have had the result it did so getting the support around him is crucial, but he is pretty robust.

"We are keen to get him back on the field, that's the key thing. It really would be a travesty if they keep him off the field for a long time.

"It's a movement game and there are rugby incidents, you can't play this game in a perfect world and in slow-motion.

"I believe it was a rugby incident that definitely warranted some action, but I don't think it warranted what ended up in a red card."

Mitrea, a regular in the Guinness PRO14, was operating without video assistance in Europe's second-tier tournament.

The same was the case for the officials in the Dragons' Euro openers against Castres and Enisei-STM, while there won't be a TMO in Friday's meeting with the Warriors.

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"I just think that it was a decision taken without the support of TMO and like any hearing you get more of a chance to look at other footage and get a better look at it," said Ryan.

"We are having to play a European tournament without the help of TMOs, I can understand why it happened but I still believe it was a rugby incident that when seen on footage will hopefully support Taine."

Ryan was asked if officials in the PRO14, Gallagher Premiership and Top14 are impacted by suddenly having to operate without footage.

"The best referees use TMO for areas where they are not quite sure, the rest of the time they referee it themselves," said the former Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester boss.

"There is a danger it can get used as a safety net but the best referees, Wayne Barnes and others, don't go to the TMO unless somebody tells them something they haven't seen."