IF the Newport Gwent Dragons board and management didn’t know it before they do now — they need to go out and sign a few high quality players.

They have to be the right kind of course and fit into the Dragons ethos, their team and work ethic, but signings have to be made.

The Dragons have undoubtedly developed young players - Dan Lydiate, Toby Faletau and Jason Tovey being the best examples and a number are making their way out of the Premiership.

Andrew Coombs illustrates that more than anyone else, the former Pontypool and Newport back row forward rewarded for a load of hard work by now featuring prominently for the Dragons.

And front row forwards Phil Price, Lloyd Burns and Dan Way were playing for Bedwas, Cross Keys and Swindon, respectively, last year so they have made the step up and could have a bright future.

But the Dragons surely can’t believe they can build a team solely around players straight out of the Premiership coupled with some promising youngsters.

They will need more than that if they are to compete even in the Magners League never mind in Europe.

True, the side made stacks of errors against Gloucester in the LV Cup semi-final and made them look better than they are, but the evidence was clear that an all-Welsh side just doesn’t work.

You do need to bring in a few players of real quality from outside to give the side a lift and a better chance of getting somewhere.

The fans certainly deserve it.

There were thousands present at Kingsholm and they really made themselves heard even in the noisy Shed where they mingled with the Gloucester supporters.

There is now little doubt in my mind that the new Rodney Parade stand could well be full when it is ready for use next season and the Dragons could even pack the ground out to its 10,000 capacity for the bigger games.

But the people running the place have got to give those fans something to encourage them - and that means some significant new players arriving this summer.