THE Dragons have fought off the attention of English clubs to secure a long-term deal with Taine Basham – and the teenage flanker has been joined in agreeing fresh terms by five fellow young guns.

Basham has caught the eye of Gallagher Premiership clubs with his exploits for the Rodney Parade region and Wales Under-20s.

They 19-year-old from Talywain, who can play across the back row, had a year to run on his contract and has chosen to stay and develop at the Dragons rather than move over the border.

South Wales Argus: NEW DEALS: Connor Edwards, Lennon Greggains, Max Williams, Taine Basham, Josh Reynolds and Dan Babos have signed fresh Dragons contractsNEW DEALS: Connor Edwards, Lennon Greggains, Max Williams, Taine Basham, Josh Reynolds and Dan Babos have signed fresh Dragons contracts

Basham has been joined in signing up by a quintet of fellow bright prospects – lock/blindside Max Williams, flanker Lennon Greggains, centre Connor Edwards, scrum-half Dan Babos and loosehead Josh Reynolds.

The Dragons have not specified the length of the contracts but all six will be at Rodney Parade beyond next season.

"We are naturally delighted that six young players, who have come through our academy system, have signed and see their futures at the Dragons," said director of rugby Dean Ryan.

"We have a responsibility to get our environment right to ensure we are not only developing but also retaining our best young talent.

"These contracts are a positive step forward for us and we look forward to watching these players develop and earn further opportunities in the senior set-up."

South Wales Argus:

Basham made his Dragons debut at the Scarlets in January 2018 and has gone on to make 17 senior appearances.

The dynamic flanker, the region's current young player of the year, came off the bench in the PRO14 opener at Munster and scored tries against Zebre and Connacht when starting at openside.

A new contract will be a relief for 20-year-old flanker Greggains, whose hopes of enjoying a breakthrough campaign after returning from the World Rugby U20 Championship were dashed by ruptured knee ligaments.

South Wales Argus:

Athletic lock Williams made his Dragons debut in the opening game of 2017/18 and the 21-year-old from Newport has featured off the bench in all three fixtures of the current campaign after impressing Ryan in the Celtic Cup.

Loosehead prop Reynolds, like Greggains a former Newport High School Old Boy, made his fifth regional appearance as a late replacement in the PRO14 win at Zebre and the 20-year-old is battling Jack Cosgrove to be the back-up for Brok Harris and Ryan Bevington.

Centre Edwards signed a one-year contract extension in the summer after being plagued by injuries.

The competitive 22-year-old from Croesyceiliog made an impression in the second half of 2017/18 and is an option in midfield along with Jack Dixon, Adam Warren, Tyler Morgan and summer recruit Tom Griffiths, who is on the comeback trail from foot surgery.

South Wales Argus:

Babos and fellow Wales Under-20s international Dafydd Buckland shared the scrum-half duties in the Celtic Cup.

The 19-year-old from Cwmbran, like Edwards, hasn't appeared since 2017/18 when he became the first player born this millennium to feature in the PRO14.

Babos and Buckland are keen to put the heat on senior 9s Rhodri Williams, Tavis Knoyle and Luke Baldwin.