NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have signed second row Ian Nimmo from English Championship side Cornish Pirates and tighthead prop Tim Ryan from Italian semi-professional outfit Cavalieri Prato.

The pair have joined the region on two-year deals.

The 26-year-old Nimmo was named in this season’s RFU Championship Dream XV and stands at 6ft 7in tall, weighing 18st 13lb.

He played for the Pirates in their defeats to London Welsh in the two legs of the Championship final.

Ryan, 27, 6ft 2in and 18st 3lb, has played for Munster, Toulon and Newcastle, converting from the back row to prop relatively late in his career.

He started for Munster when they nearly beat the All Blacks at Limerick’s Thomond Park in 2008.