NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have signed prop Tom Davies on a one-year deal after Phil Price suffered an injury blow, challenging the loosehead to provide a long-term selection headache.

The Dragons have bolstered their front row with the 23-year-old after he was released by Cardiff Blues at the end of last season.

Davies, a former Wales Under-20s prop, made 50 appearances for the men from the Arms Park and played 14 times in 2015/16.

He becomes the third prop this summer to head from the capital to Rodney Parade after the signings of loosehead Sam Hobbs and tighthead Craig Mitchell.

Head coach Kingsley Jones made his move after receiving the news that Price, who had an excellent 2015/16, is set to be sidelined until late September after undergoing surgery on a shoulder problem suffered at the end of last season.

"Tom is a big, strong lad who is good at every aspect of the game," said the former Wales flanker Jones, who has taken over the reins at Rodney Parade from previous director of rugby Lyn Jones.

"He has played 50 games at regional level and was a member of a very good Wales Under-20s team, so we feel we are getting a prop who will help us in the short term but, importantly, can really develop in the long term.

"We've signed Sam Hobbs for this season but if we lost him then we would be in a difficult situation, down to Brok Harris (primarily a tighthead) and two props of potential in Keagan Bale and Luke Garrett.

"They are project props who are unproven at this level while Tom has experience and now has a chance to impress us."

Davies follows Hobbs, Mitchell, hooker Darran Harris, centre Sam Beard, centre/wing Pat Howard and fly-half/full-back Nick Macleod through the door.

He has been training with his new teammates in pre-season and is determined to grasp his chance to enjoy regular rugby.

"I am really grateful for the opportunity that Kingsley has given me with the Dragons," he said.

"They are an exciting squad with many talented youngsters and despite having a tough season last year are making strides in the right direction.

"Looking back at my time with Cardiff Blues my chances were very limited, which resulted in me being added into the team and then taken out of it continuously, so I am looking forward to challenging for a first team position and for my game time be a lot more consistent."