NEWPORT Gwent Dragons could not take on board either Gareth Llewellyn or Mefin Davies, Wales' two displaced senior forwards.

Llewellyn, Wales' most experienced forward, was discarded by Neath-Swansea Ospreys last season and failed to find another club until he signed a one-year deal with French First Division club Narbonne this week.

He insisted on retaining his availability to play for Wales before signing, Narbonne eventually agreeing after initially wanting him to be available for them at all times.

But Davies was unable to secure a similar agreement with French champions Stade Francais, who wanted him to give up international rugby.

Davies refused to agree though the Stade Francais offer was the only one on the table, with no other club coming in for him after the demise of his region Celtic Warriors.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has praised the attitude of both players in putting their country first despite outside pressures, and he has told Davies he will still consider him for Wales even if he has to step down to the Welsh Premier Division.

The Dragons were in no position to take either Llewellyn or Davies because their squad is full and they are well covered at hooker and lock.

They already had Wales tourist Steve Jones and Wales Under-21 player Keiron Crawford at hooker, and they re-signed James Richards in place of the injured Paul Young, whose knee injury will keep him out until February at least.

And at lock the Dragons have Wales cap Ian Gough, Welsh tourist Peter Sidoli and the highly promising Luke Charteris, who is undergoing specialist training this summer and is being groomed as a future international.

On top of that Michael Owen has played for Wales at lock, though more recently he has reverted to number eight.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Rugby Union have entered the bidding race to stage a special match between the British Lions and Argentina next May which Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward wants as a warm-up for the tour to New Zealand next summer.

Twickenham and Murrayfield are also bidding for the game, and the WRU will need financial support from the National Assembly and Cardiff City Council if their bid is to be successful.

It also highlights the determination of the WRU to bring top class events to the world renowned stadium after their decision to stage a tournament in January between three South African Super 12 provinces and one of the Welsh regions.