BERNARD Jackman says bolstering the Dragons' tight five is a "priority" as the head coach looks to add to the signing of Wales ace Ross Moriarty.

Back row forward Moriarty agreed a two-year deal last weekend and will arrive from Gloucester next season along with Wales scrum-half Rhodri Williams from Bristol.

Centres Jarryd Sage and Calvin Wellington have already become Dragons players after signing from Southern Kings and St Helens respectively but Jackman also wants to add grunt up front.

The head coach has set a target of 12 new recruits, with a similar number set to head out the exit, and has some big forwards on his wishlist.

"We've a lot of balls up in the air," said Jackman. "Some [signings] are close that we've just can't announce yet but tight five was always a priority.

"I am pretty sure we will close [some deals] and have strong reinforcements into our tight five, but also in all areas of the field."

Jackman believes he has the makings of a promising pack but knows that the Dragons need more depth up front.

"We looked at what we needed on the field and I want to build a pack that is a mirror image of Gwent packs of old – big, aggressive, uncompromising packs that don't take a backward step," said the former hooker.

"We are starting to develop some of those traits with the players that are here but sometimes you need to go outside of that and buy in characters, personalities and talents that give you what you want."

"At the start of the season when we had our starting team of Brok Harris, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Cory Hill and Matthew Screech or Rynard Landman, Harrison Keddie, James Benjamin and Ollie Griffiths we were more than competitive," he continued.

"It's when we lose them we don't have that depth and we are looking to recruit players to come in and play for the first team, plus keep the players that we have who are already playing first team."

"This year we are driving our youngsters and trying fast-track them, so we will have constant pressure from first-team standard players squeezing and getting the most out of each other and then the youngsters pushing from the bottom to make a really competitive environment."

Jackman confirmed last weekend that he would be interested in bringing George North to Rodney Parade when the wing returns to Wales on a national dual contract next season while the Dragons have also held talks with loosehead Ryan Bevington and utility back Jordan Williams of Bristol.

“I’ve thrown my net quite wide,” said the head coach. “We got linked with them (Bevington and Williams), but they are only two of a number of players and agents that I am in contact with.

“There is some really good Welsh talent that has left for different reasons throughout the Aviva Premiership.

“What we speak to people about is the opportunity here and what we need, how we are going to run our organisation and where we are going to go to,” he continued.

“It’s really important to explain to them that it’s a project where you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and work hard, because that’s what we are going to be built around.

“It’s a chance to actually build something really exciting rather than go in somewhere that is already successful and you don’t know how much you have contributed to it.

“That’s the type of character we are after and thankfully there are a lot of people interested in that kind of project. We are well on track and our recruitment is going to be really impressive.”