GWENT Dragons are hoping to snap up more than 3,000 'missing' rugby fans who have failed to renew Newport season tickets.

So far Newport have sold 800 tickets while the Gwent Dragons are believed to have sold around 400 in four days.

This time last year the Black and Ambers had sold 4,000 season tickets for the new season, which suggests many supporters remain uncommitted about who to follow this term.

Dragons chief executive David Jenkins is hoping to convince the missing 3,000 to back Gwent and buy a season ticket for their new campaign.

He said: "Newport may have sold 800 season tickets but compared to last season the figure is down.

"Although the new season is still a few weeks away that still leaves around 3,000 rugby supporters who have yet to buy a season ticket. While we are trying to convince those 3,000 or so supporters to buy season tickets for both sides, we know that may not be financially possible.

"So we would them urge them to come and support the Dragons for what will be a very exciting first season."

Jenkins wasn't prepared to reveal precisely how many season tickets had been sold for the new Gwent Dragons regional side.

Tickets went on sale on Saturday and it is understood by the Argus that the figure is believed to be around 400.

Jenkins did insist though that he was delighted with how the tickets sales had gone so far.

"Tickets only went on sale on Saturday so from that point of view we are very encouraged with how it has gone," he said.

"The ticket hotline has been ringing non-stop and it's been a very positive response."

In fact, the Gwent Dragons ticket figures are encouraging when compared to the other regional sides.

The Llanelli Scarlets have sold 2,000 in three weeks, yielding them around £330,000, while the Neath-Swansea Ospreys have achieved sales of £120,000 in two weeks, selling around 850.

Figures for Cardiff Blues and the Celtic War-riors were unobtainable.

Meanwhile Jenkins is confident that the Dragons will have found a major sponsor before the start of the season.

"We have a number of meetings coming up with major companies and we are confident that something will be finalised before the end of the season," he said.