SCRUM-HALF Ryan James has made the move from Cross Keys to Newport for the second time.

The 30-year-old has swapped Pandy Park for Rodney Parade and will add to the 14 appearances he made for the Black and Ambers in 2011/12.

James played 21 times for Keys last season but has headed down the A467 after the signing of former Wales international Richie Rees.

He will instead battle with Newport's three young scrum-halves Owen Davies, Jonny Lewis and Aeron Bidgood for the number 9 jersey.

"Ryan is something that we haven't had at Newport – he is difficult to play against and is sharp of thought as well as deed," said head coach Craig Warlow.

"We have got some good young scrum-halves in the squad but you need players like Ryan. He is someone that we can use as a sounding board and can implement some of the things that we are trying to do as coaches on the field.

"He will help the young 9s around him and now we have got real competition for the start. We will be a in a good place if we can create that across the board."

Newport have also bolstered their options in midfield with the signings of Paul King and Haydn Palmer from Rumney and Newbridge respectively.

"They have trained with us all summer and stuck their hands up in our pre-season games," said Warlow, who also now has Dragons academy centre Barney Nightingale back in the mix.

"They are players who will develop with us and hopefully become Premiership regulars. We have got to make plans not just for now but the future and they are part of that."

"We've got four or five places of our squad still to fill and we are actively looking but we are in a reasonably healthy position," continued Warlow.

The Black and Ambers have a different venue for this evening's (WED) pre-season clash with Swansea (kick-off 7.30pm) after the Swalec Championship hopefuls moved it from St Helen's to Morriston RFC.

So far this month Newport have lost 54-27 at Rosslyn Park and enjoyed a 60-12 success against strong-scrummaging Abercarn in an hour-long conditioning match.

The All Whites have been edged out by Bridgend at the Brewery Field and Redruth so should provide a stern challenge.