CROSS Keys coach Greg Woods is looking for new signing Jevon Groves to push for a Newport Gwent Dragons spot after the Pandy Park outfit snapped up the former Wales Under-20s skipper.

The 20-year-old, 6ft 4ins lock/back row joins the Keys from Cardiff Blues Academy after finding his route to regional recognition blocked.

Groves skippered the national under-20s in last season’s Six Nations and was part of the squad in the summer’s Junior World Cup, along with fellow Keys lock Ashley Sweet.

In that tournament he was involved in the mass brawl between Wales and France after the final whistle and despite a number of team-mates being involved was the unlucky one to be singled out and hit with a three-week ban.

He has played for Cardiff and Glamorgan Wanderers this season, but wants to settle at a club and press for further honours and plumped for the Pandy Park side from a number of offers.

“It’s a fantastic signing and something that (director of rugby) Jonathan Westwood and I have been working for and we were delighted when Jevon signed up,” said Keys forwards coach Greg Woods.

“He has great leadership qualities, a tremendous attitude, wants to win stuff and has a terrific physical prescence but he is also a clever player and his line-out reading and calling will be key.

“There are hundreds of players that can run through walls but it’s that intelligence on the park that can make such a difference.

“Things haven’t worked out for him and he just wants to play rugby. He is the calibre of player that we want at the club and as soon as we got the nod that his future was away from the Blues we made our move.

“We have spoken to the Dragons and they will keep a close eye on him, just like they do with all young players in the region, and it is up to him to impress them.”

Also arriving at Pandy Park is fly-half/inside centre Phil Williams, another former Blues Academy product who has been snapped up by backs coach Mark Ring, not a bad judge of 10/12s.

“He is someone who Mark was desperate to bring in and he feels he can really add to our backline,” said Woods. “It is terrific that we have been able to boost our squad with both signings and they will add to the competition for places.”