THE Dragons have added former England forward Luke Narraway to their coaching team, writes Chris Kirwan.

The ex-number eight was brought in by Dean Ryan to take command of the Celtic Cup team last summer and is poised to be added to the staff permanently.

Narraway was part of the backroom team in the European Challenge Cup defeat at Castres on Saturday and will act as a consultant, helping forwards coach Ceri Jones.

Former Wales lock Ian Evans left his role as Jones’ deputy last month and Narraway, who cut his coaching teeth with Coventry and Bordeaux-Begles and played under director of rugby Ryan at Worcester, is set to fill the void permanently.

The Dragons have already brought Cheltenham-based former Gloucester and France prop/hooker Oliver Azam in as a consultant for front row matters this season.

On the field, the region are stretched in the back three because of long-term injuries to Jordan Williams, Dafydd Howells and Will Talbot-Davies and an ankle injury to Wales Sevens international Owen Jenkins that will sideline him until at least mid-February.

That led to Jacob Botica, a fly-half by trade, starting at full-back at Castres with Carwyn Penny making his regional debut off the bench.

Ashton Hewitt’s calf injury led to 20-year-old Rio Dyer and 22-year-old Jared Rosser completing the back three with the starting trio having a combined tally of just 55 Dragons appearances before kick-off.

The Dragons are down to the bare bones for Friday’s Pool One finale in the European Challenge Cup and director of rugby Dean Ryan doesn’t have room in his budget to bring a player in on loan for when the Guinness PRO14 resumes against Benetton on February 15.

South Wales Argus:

“We haven’t got any money,” said Ryan. “People need to start looking at what they have left the Dragons with, they have left it with no money and just because we have had a couple of good wins peoples’ expectations go up.

“I just keep saying it, it’s not there and it’s not fair to ask 19 and 20-year-olds to go and play against sides (like Castres).

“Our bench was 20 (years old at the weekend) and that puts huge pressure on the senior group, who were outstanding.

“Leon Brown and Elliot Dee went 80 minutes because I don’t’ think it’s constructive for (replacement tighthead) Chris Coleman to go out there for 10.

“That’s the danger of where we are the moment and that’s the nature of the Dragons unless somebody finds me a pot of money.”