THE Dragons A have bolstered their pack by bringing in Huw Taylor for their Celtic Cup clash with Connacht Eagles at Ystrad Mynach, writes Chris Kirwan.

The summer recruit from Worcester featured as a replacement back row forward in the opening two rounds of the Guinness PRO14.

He drops down to the A team this weekend and also moves forward to lock, partnering Joe Davies in the boilerhouse.

The management team make five other changes to the team that lost to Cardiff Blues 37-21 at Rodney Parade in the first round of the new tournament.

Tiaan Loots, a summer arrival from RGC 1404, comes in to partner captain Connor Edwards in midfield while Carwyn Penny starts at full-back with Will Talbot-Davies shifting to the wing.

Dafydd Buckland gets the nod at scrum-half while prop Gerard Ellis and number eight Taine Basham come in up front.

Wing/centre Calvin Wellington, who signed from Super League giants St Helens last season and made his professional debut in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, is on the bench.

Former Cardiff Blues number eight Robin Copeland starts for Connacht, who were edged out 24-16 at Munster last weekend, as he returns from a quad injury.

The 30-year-old, who won an Ireland cap against Georgia in 2014, moved to the Sportsground from Munster in the summer.

The side is captained by hooker Tom McCartney, who started against the Dragons in the PRO14 last season.

Entry at the Dragons' training base is free for season ticket holders and under-16s, who must get a match ticket. Adult entry is £5.

Dragons A: C Penny, W Talbot-Davies, C Edwards (captain), T Loots, J Rosser, J Botica, D Buckland, G Ellis, R Lawrence, C Coleman, J Davies, H Taylor, L Greggains, J Benjamin, T Basham. Replacements: Z Hewlett, S Evans, L Yendle, M Williams B Fry, D Babos, J Goodchild, C Wellington.

Connacht Eagles: D Leader, R Scholes, S O'Brien, K Joyce, C de Buitléar, C Fitzgerald, C McKeon; M Burke, T McCartney (captain), C Carey, P Claffey, J Maksymiw, C Gallagher, C Huxford, R Copeland. Replacements: J Murphy, J Duggan, C Kenny, C Daly, N Moylett, J Mitchell, C Dean, C Hayes.