COACH Ceri Jones believes Wales sevens international Will Talbot-Davies is starting to make an impact for the Dragons thanks to putting timber to a 'schoolboy' physique, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 21-year-old made his first start of the season in last weekend's Guinness PRO14 loss at Ulster and produced a lively performance on the left wing.

Talbot-Davies has featured in five matchday squads this season, profiting from the loss through injury of Hallam Amos, Ashton Hewitt and Jared Rosser, and is finding his feet at professional level.

The Wales Under-20s international was given a Dragons debut off the bench in the Anglo-Welsh Cup clash at Leicester in front of 18,750 supporters in the autumn of 2016 along with Leon Brown.

While the tighthead has gone on to establish himself as a first-teamer at Rodney Parade and become a full international, Talbot-Davies has had to be patient.

The West Midlander, who has a Welsh father and was discovered through the Exiles programme, made occasional Dragons outings but spent most of last season playing sevens.

He played for Wales in the World Rugby Sevens Series and represented his country at the World Cup in Los Angeles in July

Jones first encountered Talbot-Davies when he was working with Worcester's academy and the Dragons forwards coach is impressed by the strides made by the speedster over the past year.

"I knew Will because he was up in the Worcester region. He is from Solihull and I've known him since he was 16, 17 years old," said former Wales prop Jones.

"He was always a talented player but I suppose he was always a schoolboy type of player, elusive but a little bit loose.

"But now he is a big man, he is a good 6ft 3ins and has put on a bit of timber. He is starting to show that he can break tackles, run hard and look dangerous.

"There are still a few elements of his game that need work – he needs to get away from that touchline.

"Perhaps he wasn't put in the right positions at Ulster and there was very little space to work in, but he needs to learn that in his game.

"But it was a very pleasing performance and the sevens has helped him. As much as anything else, the boys get to go away and experience different parts of the world and that is big for them in terms of growing up."

Talbot-Davies is set for more sevens action this season after being named in Wales' squad for the 2018/19 World Rugby Sevens Series.

New head coach Richie Pugh has selected the wing/full-back along with three other Dragons - back row forward Taine Basham and wings George Gasson and Joe Goodchild.

Ben Roach, who played nine times for the Rodney Parade region last season, is also among the 24 core players.

The 10-leg men's series gets under way in Dubai on November 30 with a tournament in Cape Town the following weekend.