THE Dragons still have money left to continue their recruitment drive - with head coach Dai Flanagan eyeing another fly-half/full-back.
The Rodney Parade club this week unveiled former Wales Under-20s hooker Oli Burrows, currently with Exeter, as their fifth signing for next season.
He follows Australian centre Harry Wilson, Aussie lock Steve Cummins, Wales blindside/lock Shane Lewis-Hughes and Tonga number eight Solomone Funaki in agreeing to moves.
The Dragons have also brought in former Ospreys and Cardiff tighthead and South African wing/centre Chris Hollis on short-term deals until the end of the campaign that are likely to be extended.
However, Flanagan is still on the hunt and is looking for another playmaker after gambling in that department this season, running with Will Reed and 10/15s Angus O’Brien and Cai Evans.
That has backfired with O’Brien’s injury misfortune leading to Reed, 22, shouldering a heavy burden.
The head coach was in talks with Rhys Patchell last summer but an opportunity with the Highlanders in Super Rugby came up for the Wales international, while Gareth Anscombe was on the radar but has signed for Gloucester.
Flanagan has signed up five players but isn’t finished with his recruitment for 2024/25.
“There are a couple spaces that I still want to fill and we are close to getting stuff done, then we will be all set to go [for next season],” said the boss.
“We have a little bit of business to do, a little bit in the backroom staff, and then ideally we would like another 10/15 because we are light there.
“There is a group of our players ready to step up [from the academy] to give us depth and then we are adding experience.”
Flanagan has also had to make some tough calls to balance the books and the released list included two high-profile players in centre Sio Tomkinson and Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou plus a pair of regulars in prop Aki Seiuli and flanker Sean Lonsdale.
Stalwart Jack Dixon has also retired while former Wales flanker Dan Lydiate was a notable absentee on the leavers list, with the possibility of another one-year deal with a man whose off-field presence is valued.
Flanagan is keen to get business done but also won’t rush into moves, with some top talent still on the market.
“Look at when we picked up [Argentina loosehead] Rodrigo Martinez, that wasn’t until pre-season last year,” said the head coach.
“There are so many players out there and what is interesting is that there is a perception that the Dragons have money. We don’t, we have just been really smart with our business.
“Every player in the world seems to come up on my desk at the moment and there are multiple players.
“I feel sorry for players, because if there are that many still out there then it’s clearly a very tough world.”
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