MAKING hay in the Guinness Pro12 while rivals cope with a greater number of international absentees isn't the only way Newport Gwent Dragons stand to profit from the World Cup.

Cast your minds back to four years ago when Rodney Parade, somewhat surprisingly, supplied five members of Warren Gatland's squad in New Zealand.

Unfortunately the Dragons didn't benefit greatly from the bounce provided by an excellent tournament – two years later only number eight Taulupe Faletau was still on their books.

In the summer of 2012 lock Luke Charteris headed to Perpignan and wing Aled Brew joined Biarritz, Dan Lydiate joined the Top 14 contingent the following summer and, saddest of all, hooker Lloyd Burns was forced to retire just months after returning from the World Cup.

Where the Dragons should have been in a strong position to build they were instead rebuilding.

This time things should be different.

Yes, Faletau will be gone either after the World Cup or next summer unless there is a dramatic turnaround but the next batch of youngsters should be at Rodney Parade for years to come.

Hallam Amos, 20, has already racked up 64 Dragons appearances since his 2011 debut and made great strides in 2014/15.

His exploits saw him voted as player of the year by Argus readers and the full-back/wing is now a contender for a starting berth with Wales, let alone the squad.

I fully expect him to make Gatland's final 31 and he will continue to flourish at Rodney Parade with potential suitors put off by both a national dual contract and his medicine studies at Cardiff University.

Amos is already hot property and so is fellow dual-contracted centre/wing Tyler Morgan, who is also looking good for a place in the World Cup squad.

The 19-year-old from Caerleon was slightly disrupted by injuries last season yet still, like Amos, provided some scintillating moments.

A taste of the Test scene and the efforts put in at international camps should serve him well when he returns to continue his rugby education at Rodney Parade.

Jack Dixon is a long shot for the tournament and it looks like only more midfield injury woes will lead to him making the final 31.

Yet strangely the 20-year-old from Newbridge could be the one that profits most from the World Cup.

Dixon, who made his Dragons debut in the same game at Wasps as Amos four years ago, has long been on the radar of the Wales management team but badly-timed injuries means this summer has been his first glimpse of the international set-up.

By all accounts he has impressed and the weeks working alongside Jamie Roberts – one of his idols – should lead to him heading back to Ystrad Mynach for Dragons duty with a spring in his step.

The Wales Under-20s coaching staff always made a big thing of Dixon's leadership qualities when with his peers at the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Junior World Championships.

He may still be young but the midfield powerhouse must now take the next step when in club colours.

In Amos, Morgan and Dixon the Dragons have talent to build a side around and they should serve as inspiration to the likes of flanker Ollie Griffiths and hooker Elliot Dee, who will surely make the step up in the next couple of years.

The trio are unlikely to be key figures for Gatland's side at the World Cup but the tournament and the intense preparations should boost the Dragons, who must now match the ambitions of their latest batch of stars.