The United Rugby Championship opened for the Dragons with a hard-fought draw against Benetton at the Stadio Monigo. The match finished 19-19, with both teams scoring three tries each. Benetton's tries came from centre Francois Mey, hooker Bautista Bernasconi, and wing Ignacio Mendy. The Dragons replied with tries from Tinus de Beer, Fine Inisi, and Elliot Dee. Benetton converted two of their tries, with Umaga and de Beer adding points, giving them a 19-7 lead at halftime. In the second half, Inisi scored to narrow the gap, and Dee's try gave the Dragons a chance to take the lead. However, de Beer's conversion attempt struck the post and bounced out, keeping the score level. Benetton, playing their first match under former Wales coach Wayne Pivac, dominated the first half with strong set-piece play and discipline. The Dragons showed resilience and improved their offloading game but struggled with handling and defense in the opening period. In the final 15 minutes, a try by Che Hope was disallowed after a television match official (TMO) review found a knock-on by Huw Anderson. Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia praised his team's effort but pointed out the need for more clinical finishing in key moments. The Dragons now face five consecutive matches in Wales, starting with back-to-back United Rugby Championship derbies against Scarlets and Ospreys in Newport. Key players in the match included Benetton's Gallagher, Mendy, and Mey, and the Dragons' Anderson, Dyer, and Young. Referee Christopher Allison oversaw the game, supported by assistants Alex Frasson and Dario Merli, and TMO Marius Jonker.