FLANKER James Benjamin will captain the Dragons in their European Challenge Cup clash with Russian outfit Enisei-STM tomorrow (kick-off 3pm GMT).

Prop Lloyd Fairbrother, hooker Ellis Shipp, fly-half Arwel Robson, scrum-half Tavis Knoyle and back-rower Ben Fry also make their first starts of the season at the Kuban Stadium in Krasnodar.

Director of rugby Dean Ryan makes a total of seven changes from the XV that started last weekend’s 31-17 defeat of Castres.

A new-look half-back pairing will see Knoyle and Robson combine, while the other change in the back line is a recall for full-back Jordan Williams. Will Talbot-Davies moves to the wing.

Fairbrother and Shipp pack down alongside Aaron Jarvis up front and lock Matthew Screech returns to the engine room alongside Max Williams.

Fry, a second-half replacement in the victory over Castres at Rodney Parade, also starts the European clash in the six jersey.

Taine Basham, fresh from his call-up by Wales for the Barbarians game next Saturday, is named at number eight.

Prop duo Josh Reynolds and Chris Coleman are named among the replacements alongside centre Connor Edwards.

Ryan said: “We have made changes and always been open with the group that this spell is a mix of us wanting to win games and create opportunities.

“I am still pretty new at this club and there are still people I have only seen for 30 minutes of rugby.

“I want to create a balance between giving opportunities but also winning games – we don’t want to go to a situation with 15 changes and be like a new side.

“It’s important that we look to build so that we can go into Zebre and Worcester with real momentum.”

Dragons: Jordan Williams, Dafydd Howells, Tyler Morgan, Tom Griffiths, Will Talbot-Davies, Arwel Robson, Tavis Knoyle; Aaron Jarvis, Ellis Shipp, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Max Williams, Ben Fry, James Benjamin (capt), Taine Basham.

Reps: Rhys Lawrence, Josh Reynolds, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Huw Taylor, Luke Baldwin, Jacob Botica, Connor Edwards.