THE Dragons have re-signed hooker Rhys Lawrence after Elliot Dee’s Wales recall – while Irish loosehead Conor Maguire has also earned a short-term deal.

The region have bolstered their front row resources ahead of the international period that will deprive them of hooker Dee and tighthead Leon Brown.

Lawrence was released by the Dragons this summer after falling behind Dee, Richard Hibbard and Ellis Shipp in the pecking order but has made a swift return to Rodney Parade, initially to the end of the year.

The 32-year-old first signed from Ealing Trailfinders in 2018 and made 16 appearances, 15 of them as a replacement.

He will aim to push for more outings along with Maguire, who has made a big impression on the Dragons management.

The 23-year-old, who played for Leinster and Connacht in the Celtic Cup, was brought in when the region had a prop crisis in March and made a cameo in the Guinness PRO14 loss against Benetton.

South Wales Argus: DEAL: The Dragons have signed Conor Maguire on a short-term contractDEAL: The Dragons have signed Conor Maguire on a short-term contract

He returned after lockdown to feature as a sub against the Ospreys in August and made a return to his homeland in the defeat to Leinster in Dublin on the opening weekend of the new PRO14 season.

he signing of loosehead Maguire, nicknamed ‘The Bull’ because of his carrying, will allow Aaron Jarvis to concentrate on playing tighthead in the absence of Brown.

The Dragons also have new recruit Greg Bateman, veteran Brok Harris and Lloyd Fairbrother as senior propping options along with up-and-comers Josh Reynolds and Chris Coleman.

Ryan Bevington was not on the summer leavers list despite his contract expiring and is still listed as a squad member on the region’s website.

The 31-year-old former Wales prop has not played since suffering a serious knee injury at Munster in the opening game of the 2019/20 season and is not yet fit for a return. Nonetheless, talks are ongoing about his future.

The Dragons face Ulster, Munster, Connacht, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Benetton during the autumn Test window.

Six players - Dee, Brown, back row forwards Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright, centre Nick Tompkins and wing/full-back Jonah Holmes - are in the Wales squad.