The contract signings follow the submission of the planning application for a 15,000 capacity Rodney Parade stadium. Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins said:  “The signings reflect the ambition of the Dragons ahead of the imminent Stadium redevelopment. When Paul and I travelled to New Zealand we were determined to secure quality and experienced players to compliment the experience and emerging talent already nurtured by the Dragons within the region.

“It is important to ensure that we are signing the right type of players to join the Dragons and this formed a key reason for our trip to New Zealand. We explained our plans and the direction that the team is going and, as a result, the players have committed themselves to the Dragons for the coming two-years. There are certainly exciting times ahead for the region and the signings reflect the growing confidence here at Rodney Parade.”

The 29 year old hooker Tom Willis, also a qualified lawyer, has over 60 games experience as player and captain in Super 14 for Waikato/ Chiefs and five caps for the All Blacks in 2001-02 and New Zealand born fly-half James Aldridge also has experience on the world circuit, making a successful debut for Japan last year against South Korea with two tries and ten conversions.

Number 8 Grant Webb, also 29 years old, has played Super 14 and NPC rugby in New Zealand with Otago Highlanders and Hawks Bay and also spent some time in Japan playing for Toyota. He has also featured for Ulster Rugby in the 2007/8 season, bringing experience of the Magners League and Heineken Cup.

The experienced New Zealanders will join an array of indigenous talent at the Dragons next season, including young Academy players Adam Brown, Jason Tovey, Jimmy Norris and James Lewis and the experienced Shaun Connor and Taliesin Selley who have recently put pen to  paper.