HAYLEY Stadium looks like becoming Little Australia next season as Newport Wasps unveiled 20-year-old Ashley Jones as their fifth signing for 2002.

Having won the Victoria State title in 1999 when just 16 back home in his native country, the youngster will join up with his team-mates in the New Year.

Along with recent signings Frank Smart, Craig Watson and Scott Smith, Jones will bring Wasps tally of Australian riders to five and means former Boston Barracudda Brave Carl Wilkinson is the only Brit in the side.

But that will not worry promoter Tim Stone who is hoping his Australian acquisitions will add steel and bite to the Wasps next season.

Jones joins Newport as an asset and comes with strong recommendations from both Wasps' team manager Neil Street and former Wasp Chris Neath from their time out in Australia and with a 7-point average, he will be Wasps 3rd heat leader.

Stone said: "I'm happy to turn Hayley Stadium into a Little Australia, I hope the riders will add some fighting spirit to the team.

"Ashley is a very smooth rider who comes highly recommended and we are looking to him for the future.

"He will link up with Scott Smith who has learned a lot from last season and hopefully he will pass that onto Ashley."

With ten days until Wasps' New Year Classic at Hayley Stadium on January 6, more signings are expected as Stone looks to finalise his 2002 line-up, which he hopes will mount a Premier League challenge.