NEWPORT Rugby Club have retained almost all last season's players and placed the emphasis on youthful recruitment in putting together a squad to again challenge for the Welsh Premier Division title next season.

In all, six newcomers are included in their squad while they will also have access to some Newport Gwent Dragons Academy and development players, as will other Premier clubs in the Dragons region.

The new young recruits are Wales Under-21s prop Phil Osbourne from Cardiff, fellow tight-head Gareth McCarthy from Caerphilly, Wales Under-21s hooker Rhys James from UWIC and former Newport Under-21s and Pontypridd scrum half Matthew Thomas from Caerphilly.

The club have also signed experienced former Newport player Mark Workman and his second row colleague Neil Watkins from the Virginia Park outfit, though Workman will also act as back row cover.

Watkins, 28 and 6ft 8in and once full time with Neath, went on the Wales development tour to Canada a few years ago.

"Because we have released three locks who we could not agree terms with we needed to recruit there and we have come up with some quality, experienced replacements," said Newport coach David Rees.

"Ben Thomson is in our squad but will miss the start of the season (and Wales Under-21s' World Cup in Argentina) with ruptured knee ligaments.

"Darren Davies, Nick Kelly and Neil Edwards decided to look for pastures new (the former pair, cousins, are believed to be joining Swansea, while Edwards has been linked with Ebbw Vale).

"But we are trying to ensure that by the end of next season all players are on realistic semi-professional contracts and not inflated contracts.

"I'm very happy with the squad and the fact we have ensured stability and continuity. The squad has a young look about it, with a lower age profile.

"We have put an emphasis on development, but I think we have got a nice blend of youth and experience to make sure we're competing for the league along with Neath, Swansea and the bigger teams.

"We've also made sure we have manageable numbers from a playing point of view. I haven't brought anybody into the squad this season who won't play league rugby.

"It's going to be a tough old season next season. I think a lot of teams are putting a lot of money into their squads purely because they have this fear of the division eventually going to 12.

"But if that comes about, I don't think it will be determined by the clubs' finishing positions. I think it will be down to WRU criteria.

"So to a certain extent I think teams have to be careful about over-investing and make sure they continue to develop young players for regional rugby."

Newcomers: Gareth McCarthy, Matthew Thomas, Mark Workman, Neil Watkins (Caerphilly), Phil Osbourne (Cardiff), Rhys James (UWIC).

Retained: Ricky Williams, Dan Griffiths, Will Kershaw-Naylor, Gareth Chapman, Richard Payne, Rhys Shorney, Steve Ireland, James Ireland, Alex Walker, Marc Popham, Paul Williams, Rhys Jones, Richard Dale, Sam Waldron, Matthew Veater, Ben Thomson, David Pattison, Ian Evans, Sven Cronk (player-coach), Gethin Robinson, Andrew Brown. Released: Darren Davies, Nick Kelly, Neil Edwards, Gareth Mason, Chris Thomas, Grant Hall.