NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have bolstered their front row with the signing of hooker Darran Harris, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 23-year-old heads to Rodney Parade from English Championship side Rotherham and is a replacement for Hugh Gustafson, who has moved to the Ospreys.

The former Wales Under-20s international will battle for the 2 jersey with Elliot Dee, Rhys Thomas and Rhys Buckley.

Harris started out as a prop at Brecon before converting to the heart of the front row and playing for Merthyr and Pontypridd.

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.

"I'm delighted to have joined the Dragons," said Harris. "They are a great team with huge potential as demonstrated during the last two European Rugby Challenge Cup campaigns. Hopefully I can add to what seems to be a competitive environment.

"I am looking forward to coming home to Wales and playing alongside many familiar faces, one being Sam Hobbs who is also a Brecon Boy.

"I cannot wait to get stuck into pre-season and work alongside Kingsley (Jones, head coach) and Ceri (Jones, forwards coach), who I believe can add a lot to my game."

Head coach Jones believes that, like Buckley, his new recruit will have profited from a spell in the abrasive Championship where there is a big emphasis on the scrum and lineout.

"Darran is an exciting prospect with fantastic pace and power," he said. "Having spent last season in the English Championship with Rotherham his set piece play has developed measurably and he will bring competition for places."

Harris becomes the Dragons' sixth signing of the summer, joining Northampton centre/wing Pat Howard, Edinburgh centre Sam Beard, Sale fly-half/full-back Nick Macleod and Cardiff Blues props Craig Mitchell and Hobbs in heading through the door.