NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have targeted rising New Zealand star Aled de Malmanche to provide a further boost to their front row department, while Wales coach Warren Gatland is also interested in bringing him to Wales.

As his christian name suggests, de Malmanche has a Welsh qualification, his grandparents actually coming from Seven Sisters.

He has been making a name for himself with Waikato Chiefs and Dragons coach Paul Turner has been tracking him for some time having first become aware of him when he was coaching with the Harlequins.

And a further aid is Dragons captain Tom Willis’ relationship with de Malmanche as he is playing for the same New Zealand province.

The presence of former All Black Willis has already been a contributory factor in the decision of prop Ben Castle and scrum half Danny Lee to join the Dragons in time for next season.

Castle makes his debut for Western Force in the Super 14 competition this weekend against the Cheetahs from South Africa in Perth, though his stint with the Australian side won’t affect his decision to join the Dragons.

De Malmanche would not add to their overseas quota because he is Welsh qualified, but the snag for both the Dragons and Wales is that de Malmanche is still hoping to make it with the All Blacks having already played for the Maoris.

He is 24 and was born at Palmerston North and can play anywhere in the front row, but Turner would be looking for him to settle at loose head prop if he does make the move.

It appears that de Malmanche is giving it a couple of months in the Super 14 season to see whether he can earn New Zealand selection. If that happens obviously he won’t come to Wales.

But he is also keen to play overseas so Turner will have to play a waiting game, but he isn’t keen on holding off too long because he needs to boost his prop department.

Gatland is also aware of the need to further strengthen his front row department. Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones are pretty much unchallenged, their rivals Rhys Thomas and John Yapp being given little opportunity and Duncan Jones out for the season.

But if de Malmanche decides to make the break he could not only appear in the Dragons line up next season, he could even feature in the Wales squad for the autumn internationals