DRAGONS captain Cory Hill has paid tribute to former head coach Bernard Jackman and insisted that the squad is “working towards something special”.

Jackman was relieved of his duties at the start of the week after 18 months in charge, with the region expected to name the Irishman’s successor, reported to be Shaun Edwards, on Monday.

Hill leads the Dragons at Clermont Auvergne in the European Challenge Cup today (kick-off 1pm GMT) as forwards coach Ceri Jones takes charge of the team on an interim basis.

“It was a big shock to us,” said Hill on Jackman’s exit. “Bernard has done so much good in the region and kicked us on and moved us forward.

“Obviously results of late haven’t gone our way, but he was doing massive things off the pitch and throughout the region.

“Personally, I think I’ve come on leaps and bounds, on and off the pitch, under Bernard.

“The last two years have been pretty big for me and many other guys.

“You look at the guys in the Welsh squad now. I think when I got my first cap it was only me and Hallam (Amos).

“This autumn there were five or six of us there which is another massive positive.”

He added: “I’m club captain, I have been for two years, and as captain you do step up, and as a senior player group you always step up.

“We had a pretty good relationship with Bernard, especially me, and I think we worked really well together.”

Hill continued: “We’re a tight group and we’re really working towards something special. It’s a hard time for us as well as everybody else.

“We’re not looking to next week, we’ve got a big challenge ahead of us. We’ve got a European game and we’re fully focused on that.

“The players are going to come closer and we’ve got to unite as a region and really put a performance in.

“We’re professional players and we’re paid to go out on the weekend, put a performance in and get a result.”

Looking ahead to today’s clash, he said: “They’re a giant in Europe and we’re really looking forward to the task.

“It’s a great ground to go and play at, it’s going to be a great atmosphere, and the boys have got to stand up and relish the challenge.

“There’s massive potential in the squad. It’s up to us to step up and really push it forward and start putting performances in on the pitch.”