HEAD coach Dai Flanagan has declared ‘time is our friend’ as the Dragons target three positions in their recruitment drive for next season.
The Rodney Parade club have so far made three signings for the coming campaign, which gets under way in October because of the World Cup.
Scrum-half Dane Blacker and wing/centre Corey Baldwin have already linked up with their new teammates for the first block of pre-season training after arriving from the Scarlets.
Blindside flanker Dan Lydiate is currently with Wales after returning to Rodney Parade from the Ospreys.
Flanagan and head of recruitment Rob Burgess are now working on bringing in a lock, loosehead prop and fly-half.
As previously reported, the Dragons have lined up South African second row forward Deon Slabbert to boost their pack.
The 23-year-old is currently playing for the Pumas, who play in the semi-finals of the Currie Cup this weekend, and his signing would need Welsh Rugby Union backing to pass visa requirements.
Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell, who missed out on the World Cup squad, is also on their radar after leaving the Scarlets.
“We are in the market for players and we are speaking to as many as we can to see if they are suitable for us,” said Flanagan.
“It’s been interesting because the market is flooded with players. We need to make sure we get the right people and we have done a lot of homework.
“We haven’t got the millions that others do but we have got some money left to spend and the challenge has been to get the balance right of investing in the future of the region but also adding experience and quality.
“We need to make sure the decisions are right and, as horrible as it sounds when some players are worried about the next month’s cheque, time is our friend.”
Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny has also been linked with the Dragons after leaving the Scarlets but as a kicking coach.
They Rodney Parade club are no longer using Alan Kingsley as a kicking consultant but are well covered in that department given that Flanagan is a former fly-half and attack coach Matt O’Brien is still on the books of Newport as a 10/12.
“I’ve got a really good relationship with Leigh and he has lots more left in the tank,” said Flanagan. “I am sure he has more in terms of ambition than just being someone’s kicking coach.”
A fly-half would join Will Reed and Angus O’Brien, who impressed at full-back last season, as an option after the departures of Sam Davies and JJ Hanrahan.
Slabbert has been lined up to join the second row ranks that features World Cup hopeful Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Joe Davies, George Nott and flanker/locks Sean Lonsdale and Ryan Woodman.
The Dragons are playing it cool in their hunt for a loosehead to battle with Rhodri Jones, Aki Seiuli and Josh Reynolds.
They have returned for pre-season training but the first block is just about ticking along with the rugby detail being introduced in the second block.
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