CROSS Keys have bolstered their squad with the re-signing of talented former Newport Gwent Dragons scrum-half James Leadbeater.

The No 9 returns to Pandy Park after five seasons with Newport and the briefest of stints with Ebbw Vale.

He played just once for the Steelmen, scoring a try on his debut in their 59-0 friendly win over Gwernyfed at Eugene Cross Park last week, before opting to join Keys.

Leadbeater, 25, joined Vale over the summer after making 101 appearances for the Black and Ambers and scoring 110 points with 13 tries, nine penalties and nine conversions.

The Wales Under-20s international has also played 13 times for the Dragons, making his debut as a replacement for ex-All Blacks No 9 Danny Lee in the Heineken Cup when the region lost their re-arranged clash with Biarritz 26-8 at Parc y Scarlets in December 2009.

A dynamic and exciting runner, he is also versatile, able to slot in at full-back.

Leadbeater, playing on permit from Newport, made a big impact when he came on as a late substitute at scrum-half during Keys’ 38-17 defeat to Pontypridd at Sardis Road in May’s Principality Premiership final, scoring two quick-fire tries.

After Keys secured their place in this season’s British and Irish Cup after Saturday’s comprehensive 31-12 home play-off victory over Newport, the club’s director of rugby Jonathan Westwood welcomed his arrival.

“James is a great signing for us,” he said. “He is an excellent player and we are delighted to have him.

“He is a great athlete who is in fantastic condition and he is a huge addition to our squad.

“He really strengthens us at scrum-half. With our outside-halves Angus O’Brien and Dorian Jones likely to be away with the Dragons for much of the season, it is important to have him because Ryan James (another No 9) can play for us at fly-half.

“I would like to thank Ebbw Vale and Jonathan Jones (the club’s chairman) for the way they handled his transfer.”

Leadbeater made his Keys debut back in 2007 and has racked up 107 points for the Valleys club in his 55 appearances so far through eight tries, 13 penalties and 14 conversions.

Not so great news though is that their influential lock/back row forward Tom Lampard could be out for some time after he dislocated his A/C joint in Saturday’s victory after coming on as a late replacement.

• Cross Keys’ venerated historian Horace Jefferies has just published a book entitled Cross Keys RFC and League Rugby. Packed with facts and figures, its 318 pages and 76 illustrations chart the club’s history season by season since 1990’s introduction of national leagues in Wales.

Priced £12, it is available from Mr Jefferies at 31 Medart Street, Cross Keys, NP11 7AG, telephone 01495 270954.