Welsh team sign five new players and five more are coming in bold statement
Dragons RFC have signed five new players and there are five more on the way.
The promise was made to fans of the Newport-based club by chairman David Wright at a Q&A with supporters on Thursday evening at Rodney Parade, report the South Wales Argus.
Head coach Filo Tiatia and head of recruitment Jonathan Westwood will be looking to bolster the tighthead prop position after Lloyd Fairbrother and Leon Brown retired.
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The club will be also be looking to find a back row replacement for Wales international Taine Basham, who has agreed to sign for rivals Cardiff Rugby.
Blue and Blacks fly-half Tinus de Beer has been lined up for a move to Newport, with Ioan Lloyd set to replace him at the capital city region next season.
No individuals were named as part of the Q&A, but Wright revealed that five players had put pen to paper.
"We have now secured five players with contracts signed. We are aiming for another five over the next few weeks and months," said Wright.
"We will announce them at the right time but we have signed five really good players, and we will get the others over the line.
"Of those five, three are internationals – I’m not saying which team! – and that is really positive news."
The region is currently operating with a budget of £4.5million, but that is set to go up to around £5.1m next season. Wright has pledged to fans that the club will also sign a marquee player with a salary of around £400,000.
The best recruit for Dragons last season was undoubtedly Shane Lewis-Hughes from Cardiff, with the three-cap Wales international proving to be a shrewd acquisition. Other signings didn't have the same impact as Lewis-Hughes, and the Dragons are in need of an injection of quality to turn the tide of their fortunes.
On Thursday, it was confirmed that boss Filo Tiatia will become the permanent head coach for the club ahead of next season. The New Zealander replaced Dai Flanagan on an interim basis in November after the Welshman parted company with the region. Tiatia was previously defence specialist at the club, but will now have the more senior role.
