THE Dragons have finalised a deal with Cory Allen after the Wales centre joined them in pre-season to continue his comeback from a serious knee injury.
The 28-year-old was released by the Ospreys at the end of last season and linked up with Dean Ryan's men in a bid to prove his fitness.
While Allen is not yet fit to be a contender for the opening rounds of the United Rugby Championship, the management believe he can add an extra dimension in midfield.
The Dragons are stacked with options at 12 but are lighter at 13, even with stalwart Adam Warren back from a groin injury that limited him to four appearances last season.
Ryan fielded combinations of Jamie Roberts, Jack Dixon and Wales hopeful Aneurin Owen but all three are primarily inside centres while wing Jared Rosser was tried out in midfield against the Scarlets in the Rainbow Cup.
Six-times capped Allen, who is also a Wales sevens international, is closing in on a return after the Dragons' medical team continued the work done by their Ospreys counterparts.
Allen said: "Firstly I'd like to say I'm very grateful to Dean and the Dragons for giving me every opportunity to get back to full fitness and continue playing the game I love.
"My time here so far has been very encouraging and I am making great progress and hopefully not too far off returning.
"I'm really excited by what I've seen so far and I can't wait to get out on the field with the boys."
Allen came through the ranks at Cardiff and scored a hat-trick for Wales in their opening game at the 2015 World Cup.
His career has been disrupted by injury – he had ankle and hamstring issues before his serious knee problem – but the Dragons hope they can help him get back on track.
"Cory is a talented player who has had a tough couple of years," said director of rugby Ryan. "He's working really hard with our medical team and we are encouraged by his progress and we hope to see him on the field in a Dragons jersey".
Wales centre Nick Tompkins is back at Saracens after spending last season in Newport and Tom Griffiths, who hasn't played since January 2020, because of ruptured knee ligaments, has joined Coventry on loan for the 2021/22 English Championship campaign.
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