Dragons boss Ryan needs clarity in hunt for new signings

So far Dean Ryan has been understandably focused on retention rather than recruitment, with some major business still to be sorted in the shape of Wales forwards Cory Hill and Ross Moriarty.

The new funding model, with regions paying 20 per cent of the wages for 38 chosen Test players and the Welsh Rugby Union picking up the rest of the tab, means it would be a major boost if the duo choose to stay.

WALES STARS: Cory Hill and Ross Moriarty either side of Elliot Dee

I fear the worst with Hill, who would be transformational for the Cardiff Blues pack, but have hope over Moriarty, who was in superb form before the Six Nations and is clearly enjoying life under Ryan.

The issue isn't what the Dragons are doing, or aren't doing, but whether a deal from elsewhere is too good to turn down, even if it means the back rower has to put his Wales career on hold.

The director of rugby will have his fingers crossed but he also just needs swift answers so that he can crack on with his other business.

The Dragons will have a bit more money to work with for next season but this is not a time for major change.

It has been an encouraging start to the campaign but the region still have major shortcomings in their squad and need to address them properly.

A scattergun approach, with plenty of comings and goings, isn't the way to operate. Quality over quantity is needed, with an eye on what will also be on the market in 2021.

Director of rugby Ryan is hopefully acting like a savvy NFL general manager ahead of the draft, listing his priorities and sticking to solving them rather than getting tempted by the something he would like but doesn't need.

Clarity is key.

Priority should be lock and the Dragons need at least one more given that, in addition to the question marks over Hill, injury-plagued Samoa international Brandon Nansen has failed to provide value for money.

Unless there is another Will Rowlands on Wayne Pivac's list, that is likely to be a non-Welshman.

STALWART: Former Dragons forward Nick Crosswell

The Dragons could do with another Rynard Landman or Nick Crosswell.

Landman, while sometimes frustratingly loose, was excellent for four seasons and racked up 111 games before his time came to a needlessly sour end under Bernard Jackman.

Crosswell was a typical dependable Kiwi – give him a job and he'd do it with minimal fuss. He should have been kept on but was a victim of the uncertainty surrounding the WRU takeover in 2017, with no deal being offered.

A loosehead is also on the shopping list with long-term injury victim Ryan Bevington, the former Wales prop who has been sidelined since the opening weekend of the season, out of contract.

Once again it is an overseas player that provides the blueprint – the Dragons need another (now Welsh-qualified) Brok Harris.

Then there is the need for outside backs – another centre and a versatile older head to bolster his back three and go along with the plethora of exciting young speedsters.

The Dragons need figures who can do a job off the field as well as on it, and that makes you immediately think overseas again.

The region has put a heavy emphasis on Welsh-qualified recruits since the WRU took over in 2017.

Just four 'overseas' players have arrived – South African Zane Kirchner (signed before the deal with the governing body), Samoan Brandon Nansen, now retired Scot Jack Cosgrove and on-loan Englishman Luke Baldwin.

The next two or three recruitment windows are vital for the progress of the Dragons and, even with uncertainty over what Brexit will mean regarding Kolpak players, nationality should not matter.

The region needs a handful of quality signings, Welsh or not.

BRIGHT TALENT: Taine Basham

TOO soon for Taine? Undoubtedly, but promising Dragons back rower Basham will be a pain in the backside for his Wales seniors in Six Nations camp and his region will reap the rewards.

Unless Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau crash heads at the breakdown in training then the 20-year-old from Talywain is unlikely to win his first cap in the coming weeks.

There might have been a sniff if Italy were still to come in the schedule but instead this is likely to be a learning experience for the dynamic back rower.

Basham is one for the future and don’t rule out his development continuing on the summer tour to New Zealand, even if Wales are blessed with 6s, 7s and 8s.

The back rower said that he was “like a sponge” when called into the Wales squad for November’s uncapped fixture against the Barbarians.

That will continue under proper Test camp intensity, working closely with breakdown coach Sam Warburton and learning from rubbing shoulders with back row legends Tipuric and Faletau.

Basham will be told to watch and learn but those of us who have been lucky to watch his rapid progression this season know that the competitive streak will come through.

Former Wales captain Eddie Butler watched training ahead of the Baa Baas game as preparation for his commentary duties on Channel 4.

“He just seemed to be in the right place at the right time,” said the ex-Pontypool back rower. “He was (running as) one of the opposition players with a bib on but just kept getting in the way!

“Basham reads the game well and puts himself in harm’s way – as a back rower you are two thirds of the way there if you do those things.”

Ireland, France, England and Scotland may not learn that quite yet but the Wales seniors will at the Vale Resort training base.

Basham, tipped by everyone to be a Test player soon, will be bouncing when he returns to the Dragons.