NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have signed former Wales tighthead prop Craig Mitchell – and announced extended contracts for a raft of young players.

The Rodney Parade region have snapped up the 29-year-old, 15-times capped front row forward from Cardiff Blues.

Mitchell headed back to Wales from Exeter last season but has found chances hard to come by in the capital and will head east along with loosehead Sam Hobbs.

The Dragons have also announced fresh deals for wing Ashton Hewitt, flankers Ollie Griffiths and James Benjamin, locks Cory Hill and Matthew Screech, fly-half Dorian Jones, loosehead Keagan Bale, centre Connor Edwards and wing George Gasson.

Hallam Amos is under contract until 2017 while Tyler Morgan's deal runs to 2018.

More to come