FORWARDS coach Ceri Jones says Newport Gwent Dragons are willing to give youth a chance this season – but never at the expense of wins, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Dragons kick off their Guinness Pro12 campaign at Ulster tomorrow evening when they attempt to put miserable 2015/16 behind them.

They won just four league encounters last season and head to Belfast on a 10-game losing streak, the worst Pro12 run in their history.

The Dragons have some promising prospects on their books – notably back row forward Harrison Keddie and tighthead Leon Brown, who starred for the Grand Slam-winning Wales Under-20s last season – but they need to learn their trade, says Jones.

"You've got to win games, that's our job and it's not just about feeding talent through. We are not a development team and we are in the results business," said the former Wales prop.

"But at the same time if those guys are coming through, giving the right performances and putting the pressure on in the right way by training well then we've got to give them opportunities at the right time.

"All these guys, they put their hands up and they will be given opportunities but it's up to them. We can't just put them in for the wrong reasons."

Keddie in particular caught the eye with some barn-storming performances for Wales Under-20s last season from number eight, although his future could well lie at blindside flanker in senior rugby.

The departure of Taulupe Faletau to Bath leaves the Dragons with a void at the base of the scrum but Jones, who has Ed Jackson and Lewis Evans as primary choices, has urged caution when it comes to Keddie.

"We've got to be careful that we don't get blown away by performances for the Under-20s and that automatically means he is a regional player," said Jones, who coached Keddie at Ebbw Vale last season.

"Harrison knows he has got to earn his stripes and be the best person in that position to take that place, we can't just put him in on the merit of what he has done for the 20s.

"He knows that and he knows how hard he has to work on his overall game. He is physically really strong but he needs to up his technical game and all other aspects."