NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are working with the Welsh Rugby Union, their potential new owners, to identify transfer targets and have held talks with fly-half Ben Botica.

The Dragons have signed just two players for next season – ex-Springboks full-back Zane Kirchner and former Wales and lions fly-half/centre Gavin Henson – but are still aiming to add an experienced number 10 and a ball-carrying forward.

New Zealander Botica fits the bill as the former and head coach Kingsley Jones has held talks with the playmaker, who has been playing for Oyonnax in France’s second division.

The 27-year-old, son of former All Black Frano, signed for Montpellier last summer after four seasons in the Aviva Premiership with Harlequins but found chances hard to come by for the Top 14 heavyweights.

There is uncertainty about the future of the Dragons with a meeting of Newport RFC shareholders deciding whether to accept a sale of Rodney Parade to the WRU, enabling the governing body to take over the region.

However, chief executive Stuart Davies says the rugby department are getting on with plotting for 2017/18 with the eye on fresh blood.

“We are speaking to a number of people. He (Botica) is on our radar and Kingsley has still got some business to do,” said Dragons chief executive.

“We are still looking at a couple of key positions but we have been twin-tracking our recruitment and retention with all that has been going on. We are not finished yet and Ben is one of those players that is on his radar.

“The context for Kingsley is that he is trying to attract players to the Dragons at a time when the pitch is under water, the stadium is looking tired and the reputation isn’t what we want it to be.

“There has to be a degree of understanding of how difficult it is and has been to attract players. That’s why the proposal on the table fills me with excitement.”

The Dragons have been in breach of the rugby services agreement, the deal between the four professional sides and the WRU, by not hitting the minimum annual playing budget spend of £3.5million.

If the green light is given for the takeover then more will be spent on the squad and the Union have been working with Jones over targets.

“Ahead of having signed the heads of terms agreement, while discussions were ongoing there was a courtesy to run things by the Union,” said Davies.

“That has translated now into an obligation to work with them on any recruitment but we are clear on what our budgets are and we know how much of that we have spent.

“In that respect it is very much business as usual, working closely with (WRU head of rugby performance) Geraint John who is in regular contact with Kingsley.

“They haven’t got in the way of any recruitment and there have been no stops or blockages, indeed Zane and Gavin were recruited during a time that we were talking to the Union.”