NEWPORT have held on to two star players in Geraint O’Driscoll and Elliot Frewen after the pair both re-signed with the Black and Ambers for next season.

Full back and outside half O’Driscoll was understood to have been courted by Principality Premiership champions Pontypridd, while wing Frewen was believed to have been on his way to Aberavon.

The 27-year-old O’Driscoll, who has played regional rugby for the Newport Gwent Dragons, won the Principality’s leading points scorer award in 2013/4, being the only player to pass the 200 mark.

Frewen, aged 28, won the Principality’s leading try scorer award in 2012/3, but injury curtailed his appearances last season.

Newport are further boosted for next season by the return of the two popular players.

They welcome back two forwards to Rodney Parade from their travels.

The first is former captain and back rower Craig Attwell who has spent the last year in Australia playing for Sydney side St Patrick's in the First Division of the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union league.

The second is lock and back row forward Rhodri Jones, returning from a spell in Ireland, who made 21 appearances in season 2012/3.

The four are key signings for the Black and Ambers club who are looking to bounce back after a dreadful season which saw them finish bottom of the Premiership and lucky not to have been relegated to the Swalec Championship.

They were saved from that ignominy by virtue of champions Bargoed unable to make the leap to the top flight because they did not meet the standards of the Welsh Rugby Union’s stringent criteria.

Newport have had a coaching shake-up since the departure of head coach Sven Cronk in March.

His lieutenant Craig Warlow now occupies the hot seat with former professional player Tyron Morris taking over as forwards coach with Newport Gwent Dragons back rower Lewis Evans to act as defence guru.