NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have signed Wales Under-20 prop Aaron Coundley on a three-year development contract which will keep him at Rodney Parade until 2012.

That will partly offset the decision of Wales Sevens World Cup winner Tom Isaacs to reject a Dragons contract and sign a two-year deal with Welsh rivals the Ospreys instead.

Coundley, who is 19 and hails from Caerphilly, has made just one senior appearance for the Dragons this season, going on as a replacement in the 32-22 home win against Glasgow in October and is highly rated.

“The Dragons view Aaron as one of the stars of the future,” said rugby manager Robert Beale. “We plan to withdraw him from competitive rugby after the Under-20 World Cup this summer and concentrate on strength and conditioning which should enable him to compete at the highest level.

“Aaron has been earmarked as part of our next generation of front row players and we intend to invest as much expertise and resources into him as we can.”

But Newport scrum half Isaacs, who made one start and six appearances as a replacement for the Dragons, is moving to the Ospreys.

The 22-year-old joined Newport from Glamorgan Wanderers last year and went on to become a member of Wales’ World Cup Sevens winning team last month.

“I’m extremely grateful to both Newport and the Dragons for the opportunities they have given me this season,” he said. “But the Ospreys showed an interest and offered me a long-term commitment which made my decision an easy one.

“I am hugely excited by my move to the Ospreys and can’t wait to challenge for my place in Wales’ top region. I’m looking forward to developing my rugby in a great set-up alongside some great players and hope to push my game on a couple of levels over the forthcoming seasons.”

Isaacs’ agent Dean Sheehan said he also received offers from two clubs in England.

“It shows how his reputation is increasing. We believe he is going to be a huge asset to the Ospreys and are confident this will lead to Tom establishing his place in the Welsh squad in the coming years,” he said.

The Dragons’ recruitment won’t stop with the signing of New Zealanders prop Ben Castle and scrum half Danny Lee, who will be first choice next season, and the return of Wales wing Aled Brew.

They are expected to sign two or three more players before the start of next season, a back and two forwards, while they are also considering the future of triallist lock Sean Tomes, who was formerly with Newcastle, and has played in the last three Dragons’ fixtures since arriving from the north-east.