Newport Gwent Dragons must overcome one of the most daunting home records in Europe if they are to kick off their Heineken Cup campaign with a win at Perpignan.

The 2003 Heineken Cup finalists have proved near-invincible inside the couldron of Stade Aime Giral where they have won 20 of 22 games in the competition.


In contrast, the Dragons have only once tasted success on the road in the Heineken Cup, against Edinburgh in Murrayfield in 2004.


That game preceded a double-header between these sides when the Dragons beat Perpignan 27-14 only to suffer the same fate as so many other teams at the home of the proud Catalan side, going down 32-9.


The Dragons reached the semi-finals of last season’s European Challenge Cup but were forced to qualify for this Heineken Cup through a play-off victory over Italians Calvisano and captain Colin Charvis will have to be at his best to turn the form book on it’s head.