Dragons lose summer signing Enari after operation

Dragons summer signing Ereatara Enari is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after the Super Rugby winner had hamstring surgery.

The Rodney Parade club start the United Rugby Championship (URC) season at Benetton on Friday, 25 September (19:45 BST) but the Samoa scrum-half will not make a debut.

Dragons will also be without second-row forward Levi Douglas in Treviso because of a leg injury.

Enari arrived this summer after helping Hurricanes win Super Rugby, making 15 appearances alongside New Zealand international Cam Roigard.

The 29-year-old scored two tries against Hartpury in a lively pre-season performance but suffered a hamstring strain and is likely to be out for several months.

"He felt something wrong and was hopeful it wasn't too serious, but we found out that it would need an operation and he will be out for a little while," said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia.

Dragons are well stocked at scrum-half with Che Hope fit after missing the end of last season with a hamstring injury.

The Wales hopeful will rival stalwart Rhodri Williams and Morgan Lloyd for the nine jersey in the absence of Enari.

"Talking to Ere before he had his operation, I said that it is a long season and he will definitely get a lot of footie," said Tiatia.

Enari's injury means that Tonga wing Anzelo Tu'itavuki will be the only one of Dragons' three summer signings to feature at the start of the campaign.

Back-row forward Terrell Peita is still playing for Northland in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship and will arrive after the play-offs in October.

Dragons will also be without lock Levi Douglas for several weeks after he suffered a leg injury in the pre-season win against Scarlets in Llandovery.

The 31-year-old does not need surgery but faces a battle to feature before the break for the November internationals.

"There is a little bit of a fracture in his leg," said Tiatia. "He doesn't need an operation but he will be out for a little while."

Douglas established himself as co-captain Ben Carter's partner in the second row after arriving from Biarritz in the summer of 2025, featuring in 19 of 25 matches.

Dragons have Seb Davies, Matthew Screech, Barny Langton-Cryer and Nick Thomas as other specialist options in the second row, while flankers Ryan Woodman and Shane Lewis-Hughes have previously covered lock.

Tiatia's side travel to Treviso and then remain in Wales for the rest of a crucial first block of the season in their bid to build on an encouraging 2025-26.

Dragons have home derbies against Scarlets and Ospreys in the URC, a Challenge Cup opener against Perpignan, an away fixture against Ospreys at the revamped St Helen's and then a Newport fixture versus Zebre.