WALES prop Ryan Bevington wants to help the Dragons forwards build a fearsome reputation next season – and believes a deeper squad can help them consistently pack a punch.

The Rodney Parade region had a busy recruitment drive for 2018/19 with five of head coach Bernard Jackman's 14 signings being international forwards.

Wales front rowers Bevington, Aaron Jarvis and Richard Hibbard have already been grafting hard in pre-season while back row forward Ross Moriarty and Samoa lock Brandon Nansen will arrive soon after summer Test commitments.

The quintet will bolster a Dragons pack that made strides last season under forwards coach Ceri Jones, especially at the driving lineout, only to be hindered by a lack of depth.

Now Bevington will rival talisman Brok Harris for the 1 jersey, Hibbard will battle with Wales hooker Elliot Dee, Jarvis will put pressure on Leon Brown, Nansen will fight with Rynard Landman, Joe Davies and Matthew Screech to be captain Cory Hill's second row partner and Moriarty adds to Jackman's selection headache in the back row.

"We've got great competition, especially in the back row with some phenomenal athletes, and we have a good balance to the pack," said Bevington.

"Hopefully with a few of the more senior boys in we will have more leaders and get a bit of consistency, cohesion and camaraderie.

"Any regional team wants to build that reputation and be known for having a hard forward pack and as a prop that's what you want more than anything else.

"That comes over time and doesn't happen overnight. Already we are starting to lay the foundations and build. We have got the recruitment in place, now it's about working towards our goal and being on the same page.

"We have got a bit more strength in depth, which is what any team needs because guys will get injured, it's an occupational hazard.

"It's about having the availability of the next player to slot straight in and perform, which is what we've got at the moment."

Bevington moved to Bristol in 2016 after making 112 appearances for the Ospreys and returns with the hope of reviving his international career.

The 29-year-old played for Wales in the 2011 World Cup and won the last of his 13 caps against Italy in the 2014 Six Nations.

"I thought that I'd have a long, prosperous international but it's professional sport and there are dozens of players that would've been, could've been, should've been," he said.

"It doesn't always happen but it's how you bounce back and deal with it. I was very unfortunate by tearing my groin twice in 2014 in the Six Nations.

"I've always been clawing my way back to be fit and healthy. I had an injury at Bristol with my knee but now I have come back home and want to keep striving and pushing myself.

"As long as I stay fit and perform, everything will look after itself. I know my goals and what I want to achieve, I feel I am capable of achieving them and as long as I tick certain boxes everything has a knock-on effect.

"Any player that doesn't have aspirations to play for Wales is foolish, any player in regional rugby aspires to play for Wales.

"But at the same time I am focusing on here – this is home and you focus on your job. You want to play regularly and consistently.

"If you do that, and you do that well, then things will take care of themselves."