WITH Newport Gwent Dragons having plenty of exciting three-quarters at their disposal next season, Jason Tovey is grafting hard to make sure he is the one pulling the strings.

Wales internationals Lee Byrne and Aled Brew have penned deals to head to Rodney Parade and will join fellow internationals Hallam Amos and Tom Prydie and Under-20s prospects Jack Dixon and Tyler Morgan in battling for starting spots with Pat Leach, Ashley Smith, Ross Wardle and Matthew Pewtner.

The pack has also been bolstered with a raft of seasoned campaigners, meaning there is hope of the Dragons enjoying more front-foot ball in 2014/15.

"It could be a pretty exciting back line and hopefully the forwards will get parity up front," said 25-year-old Tovey.

"I'm sure they will be working hard on their scrums and lineouts after this first block of pre-season. If they can hold their own then it will be happy days for us in the backs."

Tovey made 26 appearances for the Dragons last season after returning from his 'sabbatical' with Cardiff Blues.

He is the first to admit that things tailed off towards the end of the campaign after a bright start and knows that he faces a battle for the start at 10 with ex-Italy fly-half Kris Burton, Dorian Jones and Angus O'Brien.

He said: "Angus has had a decent Junior World Championship and the three of us have already been in working hard; it's going to be a tough push to get that jersey at the start of the season.

"Pre-season has been tough so far and hopefully all of the hard work will pay off. The facilities (at the new training base) in Ystrad Mynach are better and the boys are enjoying working on the 4G pitch and the gym.

"If we can put the hours in on the training pitch then hopefully it will show at the start of the season. We certainly can't blame the facilities anymore."

- The Dragons' early bird season ticket offer, with prices starting at £99, ends on Monday