Dragons RFC assign dual captains ahead of URC season

Ben Carter and Angus O’Brien have been named Dragons RFC co-captains for the 2026/27 season – the Newport-Gwent-based URC outfit has confirmed.

The pair will share the role for a third consecutive campaign, having led the Welsh region in the United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup over the past two seasons.

They will be supported by Harrison Keddie, Aneurin Owen, Matthew Screech and Thomas Young, who form part of the club’s senior leadership group.

Head Coach Filo Tiatia said: “I’m delighted to confirm Ben and Angus will continue to lead us into the new season.

“Both are good men and good leaders. They love the region, are from the region, and they’re clear on their identity. They are Gwent men and they keep it simple, that’s why they’ll be leading the group again.

“We feel it’s important to have consistency around our two-leadership model with co-captains and they understand how we want to play. Both also want to keep growing in their leadership roles, not just on the field but also off the field.

“We have aspirations for this season that they’re clear on and their job is to try and elevate the group together and demand more from them.”

Wales international Carter, 25, made his club debut in November 2020 and has gone onto make 83 appearances to date over six seasons. The homegrown ace has also won 21 caps for Wales and was recently part of the squad for the inaugural Nations Championship.

“Filo spoke to me at the start of pre-season, and I was really chuffed to be asked to do it again and to do it alongside Angus is great,” said Carter.

“I’ve really enjoyed that partnership and I think it’s worked well alongside the rest of the senior leadership group we have in place.

“We’ve got a lot of experience in the group now. We have consistency from the squad from last year, which is good, and we’ve all got a good relationship and are looking forward to another season of building.”

Caerleon-born O’Brien, 31, joins with extensive experience after eight seasons at Dragons RFC, making 128 appearances and scoring 559 points for the Men of Gwent. He adds leadership and versatility to the squad.

He said: “I’m really excited to be named co-captain again and looking forward to the season ahead.

“It’s great to work alongside Carts, we get on well and have conversations both on and off the field, bouncing ideas off each other.

“He’s got great experience and knowledge, whilst working with a lot of the other senior boys we now have in the set up.

“It was good to see the growth last season, but now we’ve set ourselves some new goals this year and targets that we really want to achieve.

“We know we have to improve, to get where we want to be, and everyone’s just excited to get started now.”