Adam Hughes slots straight into the starting line-up to face Benetton Treviso upon his return to Newport Gwent Dragons and the centre insists it’s like he’s never been away. Hughes rejoined the Dragons on a three-month loan from Exeter Chiefs this week after leaving the Welsh region for Bristol back in 2014. He will now line up at centre to take on Treviso underneath the Friday night lights as the Men from Gwent look to extend their winning run at Rodney Parade to six games in all competitions. The Italians have not won outside of Italy since a trip to Scarlets in May 2013 and have now slipped to 11 straight GUINNESS PRO12 defeats after narrowly losing 25-22 to Ospreys last weekend. And as he prepares to form a centre partnership with Adam Warren on Friday, Hughes admits he is already counting down the hours. “It’s great to be back at Rodney Parade and at the Newport Gwent Dragons,” said Hughes, who made 80 appearances in his first spell at the club. “I came back to train on Tuesday and have settled in well alongside the rest of the squad. Training has gone well and it’s been fantastic using new facility in Ystrad Mynach. “I noticed that the Dragons were suffering with injuries in the centre and I felt that with the return of the internationals at the Chiefs my opportunity to start was slightly shunted. “So I made the decision to come here on loan and play some rugby. I feel that it was a good decision for me and I look forward to my first game back.” The Dragons have made a number of changes from the starting XV that lost 29-15 to Glasgow Warriors last time out as Nick Scott comes in on the wing and Luc Jones slots in at scrum-half. Matthew Screech and Cory Hill form an all new second row while flanker Lewis Evans is named as captain. Treviso have made ten changes from the Ospreys defeat as Enrico Bacchin and Simone Ragusi start at centre and wing respectively while Chris Smylie and Luke McLean are the all-new half-back pairing. Braam Steyn and Francesco Minto come into the back-row, the locks are Tom Palmer and Marco Fuser and Rupert Harden and Matteo Zanusso start as props. Treviso have lost their last three meetings with the Dragons and have not triumphed at Rodney Parade since April 2012. But McLean claims they have now put the disappointment of the Ospreys loss last weekend behind them. The fly-half said: “On Monday in the meeting we realised our mistakes and how not to repeat them, but we must look ahead and forget what happened on Saturday.” At Rodney Parade, 7.15pm. Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 53rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Gwyn Morris, Gareth John (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Jeff Mark (WRU)
