SCRUM-HALF Wayne Evans has signed for Coventry after leaving Newport Gwent Dragons, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 30-year-old spent seven seasons at Rodney Parade and only hooker Steve Jones and prop Adam Black can better his tally of 157 appearances for the region.

Evans, who has been troubled by a back injury over the past couple of campaigns, did not get offered a fresh contract and has opted to head to the West Midlands where he will be reunited with former Dragons half-back partner Matthew Jones.

He also played alongside his new boss, former lock Scott Morgan, at both Rodney Parade and Cardiff Blues.

"Wayne will give a huge amount of direction to the team. He'll be good for us, there is no doubt about that," said the head coach.

"He played with Matt Jones when they were at the Dragons together and he'll be another vital cog in the machine for us to get where we want to get.

"He can easily manage another three or four years of part-time rugby because it won't take so much out of the body."

Evans will play for the famous club in English National One and will combine rugby with a job at Skill Group, a training provider founded by ex-Dragon Nathan Brew.

The Dragons have Richie Rees, Jonathan Evans and Luc Jones on their books as scrum-halves.