PROP Leon Brown is confident the Dragons' pack will be a force to be reckoned with when they're bolstered by new recruits this summer.

Head coach Bernard Jackman has snapped up eight players so far for 2018/19 with four of them up front.

Former Lions hooker Richard Hibbard is arriving from Gloucester along with Wales back rower Ross Moriarty, loosehead Ryan Bevington will hope to add to his 13 caps when he returns from Bristol while lock/flanker Huw Taylor, a former England Under-20s international who qualifies for Wales, has signed from Worcester.

An overseas lock is also set to arrive, visa permitting, as Jackman attempts to add more depth to a tight five that features Wales caps Brown, Cory Hill and Elliot Dee plus influential South Africans Brok Harris and Rynard Landman.

"We have put in some decent performances as a tight five," said tighthead Brown.

"Most of the pack is here next season so with the additions coming in I think we can get stronger and become a real force.

"Ceri Jones is a good coach, he has put a lot of time and effort into our unit sessions to try and make them a bit different.

"That has seemed to have worked and hopefully with our scrum and driving lineout we can give the backs a platform next season."

It has been a season to remember for Brown, despite two injury frustrations.

The 21-year-old was capped against Australia, Georgia and New Zealand in the autumn only to suffer a concussion against the All Blacks.

He returned in February only to rupture ligaments in the big toe of his left foot against the Southern Kings, a blow that ended his season and has denied him the chance to tour with Wales this summer.

It means that Brown won't get the opportunity to experience the Principality Stadium in Dragons colours against the Scarlets in the PRO14 finale a week on Saturday.

"One of my targets this season was to play at Judgement Day," he lamented.

"I've done pretty much everything but that, but it can't be helped and if you'd said at the start of the season that I'd have three Welsh caps and play 11 times for the Dragons I would have taken it.

"I've only got 15 (regional) appearances, I will only get better from playing, so hopefully next season I will cut out the injuries and get a good double-figure set of games.

"I would have liked to make Judgement Day but it's coming too soon and there's no point in risking my toe when there are no more games after it.

"Now I want to just get ready for that first day of pre-season so that I can get cracking.

"There are a fair few signings coming in and it's going to be a big change. In past seasons it has been said that the Dragons are building but we haven't really seen as many signings as this.

"It's exciting and we are all looking forward to it and are trying to get in as good shape as possible to put our best foot forward for selection next year.

"It's a bit easier for me to look forward, because my season is over, but everyone has one eye on what is to come and is looking forward to getting stuck in and seeing what we can do."