Dragons score four tries to beat Perpignan but miss bonus point
The Dragons opened their Challenge Cup campaign with a 29‑14 victory over Perpignan at Rodney Parade on 16 October 2026. Filo Tiatia’s side, who reached the semi‑finals of the 2025‑26 competition, crossed the line four times but fell short of the bonus point after this season’s rule change.
Perpignan led 7‑5 after a quiet first half, responding to Jared Rosser’s early try with a score from Jules Coulon. The French visitors dominated possession and territory, yet could only add a second try from a forward charge by Posolo Tuilagi, which kept the score close.
The Dragons broke the deadlock in the fifth minute when Rosser finished a multi‑phase move on the left wing. The try moved Ashton Hewitt up the club’s all‑time try list, putting him six short of Aled Brew’s record. After a disallowed try for Jac Lloyd, the home side continued to press. Centre Aneurin Owen capitalised on a quick ball from a line‑out at the 55‑minute mark, exploiting a defensive lapse to score. Posolo Tuilagi, whose uncle Anitelea also played for the Dragons, answered with a try of his own, but Tinus de Beer’s penalty reduced the deficit to 15‑14 with fifteen minutes left.
A decisive moment came when Tonga wing Anzelo Tuitavuki finished a close‑range effort, and his conversion – a tricky kick from the South African – gave the Dragons a comfortable lead. In the closing stages Fetuli Paea, the first Tongan centre to play for the club, added a final try, sealing the win but leaving the side one try short of the bonus.
Coach Filo Tiatia praised his players, saying, “The most pleasing part was guys just finding a way and making it happen. We chased the game to get that extra bonus but didn’t quite get there. There are still areas to grow but we spoke about our physicality from the week before against Ospreys and the boys were outstanding on both sides of the ball. I am really proud of the group.”
The win moves the Dragons into a strong position for the last‑16, with upcoming fixtures against the Cheetahs in Swansea in December, followed by games against Bayonne in Newport and Ulster in Belfast in January. The match also saw loose‑head props Rhodri Jones and Wyn Jones leave the field, adding to a list of injuries that includes Argentina international Rodrigo Martinez, who was sidelined after the Ospreys defeat.
Scoring summary: Dragons – tries by Rosser, Owen, Tuitavuki, Paea; conversion and penalty by de Beer (3). Perpignan – tries by Coulon and Tuilagi; conversions by Tedder (2).
Dragons line‑up: de Beer; Dyer, Inisi, Owen, Rosser; J Lloyd, Hope; R Jones, Coghlan, O James, Langton‑Cryer, Carter (c), Lewis‑Hughes, Beddall, Keddie. Replacements: Dee, W Jones, Lewis, Screech, Minto, R Williams, F Paea, Tuitavuki.
Perpignan line‑up: Tedder; Toganiyadrava, Reece, de la Fuente (c), Granell; McIntyre, McGrath; Boyer‑Gallardo, Malolo, Riccioni, Chinarro, Tanguy, J van Tonder, Coulon, Dvali. Replacements: Lotrian, Tetrashvili, Amituanai, Velarte, Taty, Tuilagi, Aucagne, Mascarenc.
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa) with assistants Alex Thomas and Hamish Grant (England) and TMO David Rose (England).