Dean Ryan has spoken about his delight at the Welsh exiles who have signed up for next season – admitting all will come with a burning desire to prove their worth at Dragons and in Wales.
Dragons have confirmed that Welsh qualified duo Max Clark and Sean Lonsdale will move to the region from the English Premiership next season.
They will be joined by Ospreys loosehead Rhodri Jones, Ulster hooker Bradley Roberts and Clermont fly-half JJ Hanrahan.
Playmaker Hanrahan is the only signing that does not qualify for Wales and Ryan is pleased by how the squad is shaping up for next season.
“We are always looking to evolve the squad and we have got some momentum now,” said the Director of Dragons Rugby.
“I’m pleased with the quality of people here and I’m looking to complement that with people looking to come back and really impress in Wales. We will continue to work on all fronts.
“It is a combination of continuing to accelerate the development of some of the players within while at the same time finding a way of raising the bar.
“One of the challenges of the resources available to us is that we tend to be thin in the frontline XV and young in supporting layers. What we are trying to do is create more competition and peer pressure in certain positions.
“We've spoken to people that are keen to come back to Wales,” added Ryan.
“Sean went away and made a name for himself at Exeter and Max broke through the English system at Bath.
“They are keen to come here, and they see it as an opportunity to play in front of national selectors. Both aspire to be recognised in a wider Wales squad.
“We have got to look at how we keep improving. We're trying to change some of the ways we approach games, the way that Dragons has traditionally developed people.
“Sometimes that's tough, but at the same time the players have been outstanding in terms of the attitude, the willingness to look at different ways and some of the growth of our youngsters has been significant.
“Although everything wants to lead into wins, we shouldn't lose sight of the growth of an Aneurin Owen, Chris Coleman and Ben Carter.
“Those players are showing the sort of behaviours and the way forward for the Dragons in the future.
“You combine that with the people that are coming in the next six months or so and that keeps us on a focus of how we can get better.”
I’m pleased with the quality of people here and I’m looking to complement that with people looking to come back and really impress in Wales... We will continue to work on all fronts...
