MOBILE hooker Darran Harris hopes that a season being exposed to the dark arts in the notoriously combative English Championship will help him thrive at Newport Gwent Dragons.

The 23-year-old has signed a one-year deal at Rodney Parade where he will battle for the 2 jersey with Wales hopeful Elliot Dee, Rhys Thomas and Rhys Buckley.

Harris has returned home after a season with Rotherham Titans and made an impressive first appearance in Dragons colours when taking part in the Singha Premiership 7s.

That he was selected for the shortened format shows that the Brecon boy will be an asset in the loose but the front rower stresses that he can also do the nuts and bolts.

"I'd like to think that I am a mobile hooker and quite robust while it was a good learning curve going into the English game where there is a lot of emphasis on the set piece and driving lineouts," said Harris.

"That should stand me in good stead and I can lean on that experience and put it to good use.

"It's my fifth season as a hooker after moving from loosehead prop, so the scrummaging has been nothing new to me, it's just been getting used to the throwing in.

"So far I've been working hard with Ceri (Jones, forwards coach) on the scrummaging and 'Chappy' (James Chapron, academy manager and a former hooker) with the throwing."

A product of the Cardiff Blues academy, he moved to the Scarlets in 2013, where he made 10 regional appearances including a Champions Cup debut at Leicester, before heading to Yorkshire last summer.

"One of my first chats after joining the Dragons was with Rhys Buckley, who came from the Championship (Moseley) as well," said Harris.

"It's a good little breeding ground for Welsh players who go away then come back to stake a claim for a spot in Wales.

"I was with the Scarlets but wasn't getting any game time and Rotherham offered me that opportunity. I got a season under my belt and it paid off with the Dragons coming in for me."

Harris has been signed as a fourth hooker following the departure of Hugh Gustafson to the Ospreys but insists he isn't here to play second fiddle.

"Everyone in the squad has the aspiration to be knocking on Kingsley's door for selection and push for a starting spot," he said.

"The competition is strong and at hooker I have Elliot, TRT and Rhys. That can only be good for all four of us."