I MIGHT stay on, says Bobby Skinstad, the former South Africa captain who arrived at Rodney Parade yesterday to take up a three-month contract with Newport Gwent Dragons, writes Robin Davey.

The big back row forward has signed for the Dragons in preference to leading clubs in England and France who were all chasing him once he made known his availability.

"I'm very excited and I want to thank Tony Brown and the Newport Gwent Dragons for giving me the opportunity," said the eloquent Skinstad, who was quickly re-united with former South African teammtes Percy Montgomery and Andy Marinos.

"There is a history of relations with South African players here, they have been well received and I'm looking forward to helping in any way I can. "I can't wait to get started, maybe fresh legs can inject a bit of enthusiasm."

He will be available from the Celtic League game against Leinster at Rodney Parade a week next Friday, provided he comes through full fitness tests next week from coach Mike Ruddock and his staff.

That looks pretty likely given his general shape, and he also insists he has fully recovered from the broken arm which ruled him out of the World Cup on the eve of the tournament.

"It's the off-season in South Africa and I've been training with the guys not involved in the World Cup," he said. "I haven't had any full match practice, but I've got a couple of weeks left before the first game.

"I'm here until the end of the season, perhaps longer, it all depends how it goes, but I'd like to be part of what's happening here. It's all exciting for me. Let's look at beating Leicester today, then go to fortress Ravenhill and beat Ulster.

"If Leicester don't then beat Stade Francais they can't qualify, so things would be more positive and I could play in the Heineken Cup, too.

"It's a tremendous honour to be here. I grew up in difficult times in South Africa and smuggled out tapes of the Five Nations so I've been in awe of that since I was at school.

"I've had an eye on playing overseas for a while. I do my best talking on the field between the white lines," said the dynamic Skinstad.

"There is a slight frustration at present over the state of South Africa rugby in that they are not affording themselves the opportunity to be what they could be," he added.

"There has been a shift of power to the north and I enjoy myself when I am playing in the best environment I can.

"I'm also a fan of the regional system which will benefit not just the Dragons but Welsh rugby as well, and I want to be part of that.

"I have a tradition for coming from no-hopers to turn things around. That's not quite the case here, but there has been a re-awakening."

Skinstad says he still wants to play for South Africa and availability here would not be a problem.