PROMISING back row forward Aaron Wainwright, scrum-half Dan Babos and tighthead Chris Coleman have been included in the Dragons' squad for the European Rugby Challenge Cup, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Rodney Parade region have registered a 41-strong group for the competition, which pits them against Newcastle, Bordeaux-Begles and Enisei-STM.

Head coach Bernard Jackman has named plenty of youth with 20-year-old Wainwright, 18-year-old Babos and 19-year-old Coleman yet to make their regional bows while 19-year-old flanker Max Williams, 19-year-old wing Jared Rosser and 19-year-old scrum-half Owain Leonard have made their first Dragons appearances in the Guinness PRO14 this season.

As expected, there is no place in the squad for long-term injury victims scrum-half Tavis Knoyle, full-back Zane Kirchner, centre Sam Beard and flanker Nic Cudd while back row forward Harri Keddie is left out following his shoulder injury suffered against Connacht a fortnight ago.

Each club in the competition may register up to three additional players during the pool stages to replace one of their initial 41.

All players must have a three-month contract with the club – therefore current centre/wing Thretton Palamo is not eligible as the USA international is on a short-term loan deal from Bristol until November.

If the Dragons qualify for the knockout stages then they will be able to bring in three more players to their squad.

Jackman's side start their campaign with two away fixtures next month, heading to Newcastle on Saturday, October 14 and then Moscow on Saturday, October 21.

They host the Russians on Friday, December 8 and then the Falcons on Friday, December 15 before ending with a January double-header against Bordeaux-Begles with the first game in France.

Dragons European squad

Back three: H Amos, G Gasson, A Hewitt, A Hughes, C Meyer, J Rosser, W Talbot-Davies.

Centre: J Dixon, P Howard, T Morgan, A Warren.

Fly-half: G Henson, D Jones, A O'Brien, A Robson.

Scrum-half: D Babos, C Davies, S Pretorius, O Leonard.

Prop: L Brown, C Coleman, T Davies, L Fairbrother, L Garrett, B Harris, S Hobbs,

Hooker: R Buckley, E Dee, G Ellis.

Second row: J Davies, C Hill, R Landman, M Screech, A Sweet,

Back row: J Benjamin, R Blake, L Evans, O Griffiths, J Thomas, A Wainwright, M Williams.