THE Dragons have agreed contract extensions with scrum-half Charlie Davies and front rowers Thomas Davies and Lloyd Fairbrother.
Half-back Davies, 27, joined from Wasps in 2015 and has made 42 appearances for the Rodney Parade region, memorably scoring the match-winning try to beat Gloucester in the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final at Kingsholm in 2016.
The Welsh-qualified scrum-half will battle for the 9 jersey with Sarel Pretorius, Tavis Knoyle and academy prospect Owain Leonard in the coming campaign.
Tighthead Fairbrother is preparing for his fourth season in Newport after the popular Cornishman, who qualifies for Wales through his mother from Blaenavon, arrived from Exeter Chiefs.
The 25-year-old had a solid 2016/17, taking his appearances total to 59 by playing 23 times and pushing Brok Harris for the 3 jersey.
His rival for starts this term will be the experienced South African, the highly-rated Leon Brown and new recruit Dan Suter.
Loosehead Davies joined on a one-year deal from Cardiff Blues last summer and made 18 appearances.
The 24-year-old was largely back-up to Sam Hobbs and is joined in the scrap for the start by Dragons stalwart Phil Price and Luke Garrett, who is back at the club after spending last season on loan at the title-winning Scarlets.
Head coach Bernard Jackman said: “I am delighted to confirm that Charlie, ‘TD’ and Lloyd have re-signed with us.
“They are currently working hard with the squad in pre-season to try and ensure we are ready for what will be an exciting Guinness PRO14 season.”
The trio are in a 40-strong squad currently in France for a week-long training camp that culminates in Friday’s friendly against Top 14 heavyweights Montpellier.
Back row forward Lewis Evans, last season’s captain, has travelled but is not fit for selection while the South African pair of Brok Harris and Zane Kirchner have remained in Wales.
Jackman has included promising Wales Under-20s full-back Will Talbot-Davies along with a trio of bright prospects yet to make their regional debuts – wings Jared Rosser and George Gasson plus lock/blindside Max Williams.
A number of the squad will return on Friday in order to play against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday afternoon.
Dragons squad in France: C Meyer, W Talbot-Davies, H Amos, A Hewitt, A Hughes, J Rosser, G Gasson, P Howard, A Warren, T Morgan, J Dixon, S Beard, G Henson, A O’Brien, D Jones, S Pretorius, T Knoyle, C Davies, P Price, T Davies, L Garrett, E Dee, R Buckley, G Ellis, L Belcher, L Fairbrother, L Brown, D Suter, C Hill, J Davies, R Landman, M Screech, A Sweet, J Thomas, M Williams, J Benjamin, N Cudd, O Griffiths, H Keddie, R Blake.
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