After a heartbreaking Challenge Cup semi-final loss in Montpellier, the Dragons are facing a pivotal moment in their remarkable turnaround season. Co-captain Angus O'Brien has vowed to use the pain as "fuel" as the Rodney Parade side looks to finish the campaign strong and build on their progress heading into 2026-27.

It's been a season of dramatic highs and lows for Filo Tiatia's squad. Just months after finishing bottom of the United Rugby Championship (URC) and hitting a new low with a December thrashing at previously winless Perpignan, the Dragons have transformed into a resilient force. That turning point came when they trailed Lyon 21-6 in Newport, only to rally with three tries and O'Brien's conversion to end a 14-month victory drought.

Since then, the Dragons have been nearly unbeatable at home, stringing together a five-match run that propelled them into European knockout rugby. Road wins at Stade Francais and Zebre showed their growing mettle, even if Montpellier's driving line-out—the best in the competition—proved a bridge too far in the semis.

"Looking at the whole squad in a huddle at the end of the game, I guarantee they will have been referencing how they finish with their best foot forward," said former Dragons scrum-half Richie Rees on BBC Radio Wales. "They have turned the corner since Christmas."

The challenge now? Coping with higher expectations. The Dragons have shed their underdog status after pushing champions Leinster to the brink in Newport, losing in the closing stages at Munster and Ospreys, and standing toe-to-toe with Montpellier's fearsome set piece. Their resilience was epitomized by Thomas Young and Rio Dyer chasing down a lost cause to save a try—a snapshot of a team that's learned to stay in the fight.

With Tonga back Fine Inisi signing for 2026 and a core of players hungry for more, the next step is clear: turn this season's promise into sustained success. For Dragons fans, the future has never looked brighter.