THE Dragons have boosted their injury-hit back row with Gloucester flanker Harry Taylor on a short-term loan.
The 22-year-old has arrived from the Cherry and Whites and is poised to make a swift debut in the United Rugby Championship clash with Ulster in Belfast on Saturday evening.
The former England Under-20s international has made 13 appearances for Gloucester, including a start against the Dragons at Rodney Parade in the Challenge Cup in 2022.
Taylor has featured four times for Gloucester this season with two Premiership Cup starts, a league outing off the bench at Sale in November and then a start against Georgia’s Black Lion in Europe.
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan said: “We’re really pleased to be able to bring in a player of Harry’s quality on a short-term loan agreement.
“He is a versatile forward and good athlete, and he will give us much needed depth to our back row resources with a number of key players either injured or away in international duty.”
The Dragons are without Wales star Aaron Wainwright during the Six Nations and have lost young prospects George Young and Ryan Woodman to season-ending injuries.
The length of the Taylor deal is likely to hinge on the fitness of Harri Keddie (elbow) and Ollie Griffiths (concussion), who are expected to be back in the mix for selection when the URC run-in starts against the Bulls on March 23.
Wainwright is unlikely to be available for the clash with the South Africans after his Six Nations exertions with the number eight more likely to return at Zebre Parma the following weekend.
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