NEWPORT Gwent Dragons were close to signing Irish legend Brian O'Driscoll and his international team-mate Denis Hickie last season, reveals Wales coach Mike Ruddock.

Ruddock, then the Dragons coach, flew out to Dublin in the winter with the aim of persuading Ireland captain and British Lions star O'Driscoll and Hickie to come to Wales and sign up for the Dragons.

Ruddock says the budget was there to do a deal with the Irish aces and says they seriously considered moving to Wales.

Ruddock knew the pair from his time in Ireland coaching Leinster, especially winger Hickie, O'Driscoll an emerging player at the time.

"I was made aware that Brian and Denis were coming towards the end of their contracts, so I flew to Dublin to meet them," said Ruddock.

"They liked the sound of things and were very aware of the Dragons team and the backing provided by Tony Brown, as well as the magnificent crowds at Rodney Parade.

"They were hugely interested in joining the Dragons, but in the end decided to stay in Irish rugby.

"Their ties to the Irish Rugby Union were huge, though they had the time to stop and listen and were impressed with the Dragons and felt they had a big future.

"We didn't get into the financial side of things, but Tony Brown (Newport and Dragons benefactor) was happy for me to meet them and he indicated a budget was available to sign them.

"It was a genuine interest, they thought about it and a week later got back in touch so they gave it some real consideration.

"The IRFU had been very good to them. Denis had suffered major Achilles' tendon trouble and had been given huge support so felt it would be wrong to walk away while Brian was the captain of Ireland which was big for him."

The two Irish backs would have been well aware of the potential at Rodney Parade for as members of the Leinster team they were part of three epic encounters in only five weeks against Newport three seasons ago.

The first two were back-to-back games in the Heineken Cup when Newport lost 21-6 at Donnybrook and 26-21 at Rodney Parade after leading 18-10. But the floodlights suddenly failed and when play resumed Leinster took charge.

The third game was the Celtic quarter-final, again at Donnybrook, with Leinster this time winning 34-22.