NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have signed Wales star Michael Owen on a new three-year contract and former international prop Chris Anthony for two more years.

They are also in negotiations with another Welsh pair, lock Ian Gough and centre or wing Nathan Brew and expect them both to sign new deals soon.

The Argus revealed last week Owen was set to sign a new contract, and the news that the 24-year-old number eight has committed himself for a further three years will bring welcome stability to the region in view of the benefactor Tony Brown's impending departure.

Owen has now won 20 caps and should be a Wales regular for years to come. He was vice-captain against England and is also a near certainty for the British Lions tour to New Zealand this summer.

Dragons chief executive Andy Marinos said: "Obviously Michael's signing for us is pretty significant, knowing he's an international star of the future.

"He's got good experience now and had leadership with the Dragons when Jason Forster was ill recently. He's been touted as a future Wales captain with British Lions potential and it's good to have a player of his calibre signing for another three years with us.

"He's pretty similar to Gary Teichmann in that he just gets on with the job and puts in consistently good performances.

"He has new and innovative ideas and is the type of guy who will be the nucleus of the Dragons for the next couple of years.

"Chris Anthony has always been a rock solid tight head and we are fortunate to secure him for another two years. He brings huge experience and solidity to our scrum and is a good role model who helps younger guys like Rhys Thomas and Gethin Robinson.

"Gareth Cooper and Ceri Sweeney have got another two years on their contracts, while Hal Luscombe, Kevin Morgan, Steve Jones, Gareth Wyatt, Peter Sidoli and Jamie Ringer have another year so we've got the nucleus of a good squad and spine of a team to take us forward."

Meanwhile, the Dragons are unhappy at the Wales management's decision not to release the majority of their Welsh players for Friday night's home League game against Ulster.

Only two of the eight players in the Wales squad have been released, Luke Charteris, and Steve Jones while Cooper and Gough are said to have shoulder injuries.

But Gareth Thomas and Stephen Jones must play for their French clubs as do England's players while Ulster trio David Humphreys, Kevi Maggs and Tommy Bowe can all play for Ulster against the Dragons.