Revitalised Wales wing Dyer signs new Dragons deal

Wales wing Rio Dyer has signed a new two-year contract with Dragons after rediscovering his love for rugby.

The 26-year-old from Rogerstone has been back to his best for the Rodney Parade club this season with seven tries in 14 games.

Dyer endured a tough time in 2024-25 when both Dragons and Wales struggled - enduring a 15-month winless streak with club and country - but has been a key figure in an improved campaign for Filo Tiatia's side.

"Over the last year I've found true joy and peace playing at Dragons and have been loving my rugby again," said the wing.

Dyer has crossed 28 times in 90 appearances games for Dragons and is sixth on their all-time try chart, 15 behind leader Aled Brew.

The 24-times capped wing has rediscovered his spark and this season sits second in the United Rugby Championship (URC) charts for clean breaks (18) and eighth for defenders beaten (35).

Dyer is pleased to be an inspiration after having his own Dragons idols when playing the game at Pill Harriers, Risca and Newport High School Old Boys.

"Another major incentive was when we went out to the community, seeing the kids and how much it meant to them seeing us at the camps," he said.

"It made me realise how much it meant to me at that age to see my favourite players and that brought me back to the reason why I started playing rugby in the first place.

"Now I'm in a position to give back the joy I had when I was a kid to anyone else aspiring to become a Dragon and that means a lot to me."

Dyer, who played at the 2023 World Cup, was included in Steve Tandy's first Wales squad and started in the 2025 autumn finale against South Africa.

He missed out on the Six Nations squad despite his fine form and will hope to force his way back in for the summer fixtures against Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and the Springboks.

Attack coach Matt O'Brien has backed Dyer, who made his Dragons debut in an Anglo-Welsh Cup fixture at Saracens in January 2018, to be back on the international stage.

"Rio has hit some real form this season and gives us a big threat in attack with his speed and one-on-one ability," said O'Brien.

"Hopefully we can continue to see more of that in a Dragons jersey and help Rio get back into the international set up, where I feel he belongs."

Dyer has followed co-captain and full-back Angus O'Brien, Wales hooker Brodie Coghlan and promising scrum-half Che Hope in agreeing fresh terms with Dragons.