The Dragons have undergone a remarkable transformation this season, and now they stand on the brink of history. After years of struggle, Filo Tiatia's rejuvenated squad is just one win away from their first-ever European final.
It's been a season of stark contrast for the Newport-based club. Last year, the social media account "Did the Dragons lose?" had an easy job—answering "yes" in all but one league match, with 17 defeats from 18 games. This campaign, however, has been filled with memorable "no's," particularly in European competition.
On Sunday (12:30 BST), the Dragons travel to face Montpellier in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, aiming to break through a barrier that has eluded them three times before. The Rodney Parade side reached the last four of Europe's second-tier tournament in 2007, 2015, and most recently a decade ago—when they were knocked out by none other than Sunday's opponents.
The 2025-26 season started slowly, with the Dragons failing to win a match until December. But since then, they've built momentum, posting a record of seven wins, 12 losses, and three draws across all competitions. To put that in perspective, they haven't won seven games in a season since the 2019-20 campaign under Dean Ryan, when they celebrated nine victories and reached the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
Milestones have piled up: a five-match unbeaten home run, their first away league win in the United Rugby Championship in four years, and a first victory outside Wales since October 2021. That came last weekend against Zebre, marking a third consecutive away win—unheard of in recent Dragons history.
Yes, the context is relative. The Dragons could still finish 15th out of 16 in the league, and they've lost more games than they've won. But they've become harder to beat, grinding out results that would have slipped away in previous seasons. None was bigger than the Challenge Cup last-16 tie against Stade Français in Paris—a statement win that announced their arrival as genuine contenders.
Former Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt captured the mood perfectly on BBC Scrum V's "The Warm Up" program. "All the criticism the Dragons have faced over the years for the performances, stuff like this just makes it all positive," he said.
Now, with a place in the final on the line, the Dragons have a chance to turn years of frustration into something truly special.