NEWPORT Gwent Dragons now have something tangible to show for the progress they have made this season.

Next Friday they will kick off European semi-finals weekend when they travel to Edinburgh in the Challenge Cup.

Make no mistake, it's a big deal for the Rodney Parade region even though there will be plenty of empty seats at Murrayfield and the encounter will not match the near-Test quality of Clermont Auvergne versus Saracens or Toulon against Leinster.

The class of 2015 have matched the exploits of the team from 2007 by making the last four and now they want to make history by going a step further than Paul Turner's men and booking a place at the Twickenham Stoop.

It has been years since the Dragons had something for play for at this time of year and there has clearly been progress, although admittedly their ninth place in the Guinness Pro12 means that we shouldn't get too carried away while still excited about a quarter-final success against Cardiff Blues.

There have been some terrific highs – away wins at Stade Francais, Newcastle and Cardiff, a first ever win against Leinster in Dublin, a first league success at Treviso – and they have won 14 games in all competitions, a figure that is their highest since the 2006/7 tally of 16 (it will be a challenge to match the 2003/4 record of 18).

Everything indicates that the Dragons are on the up and now they must add to their Wales contingent, something that they will do in the next World Cup cycle with Hallam Amos and Tyler Morgan on dual contracts while the national coaches have admitted that Elliot Dee, Jack Dixon, Ollie Griffiths have caught the eye.

There is a wealth of bright talent coming through and catching the eye in the Principality Premiership, so how can the region keep progressing? By signing some more quality overseas recruits if there's sufficient money in the pot.

Ulster last week announced the signing of Charles Piutau with the All Black reportedly lured to Belfast £500,000 a year while Munster have snapped up his fellow New Zealand international Francis Salli.

While Lyn Jones would no doubt accept such players if chairman Martyn Hazell signed them up, the director of rugby and head coach Kingsley Jones have already showed the way forward with their (somewhat cheaper) recruitment.

South Africans Rynard Landman and Brok Harris and New Zealander Nick Crosswell have proved to be astute signings.

Dependable pros rather than stellar talent and men at the right stage of their careers – 28, 30 and 29 respectively – rather than chasing a pay day. Regulars who are there all season long without international commitments and who have the leadership qualities to bring on Welsh talent.

It is the overseas contingent that have provided the value for money while former Wales internationals Lee Byrne, Aled Brew, Andy Powell and Ian Gough have a combined tally of 36 appearances.

It undoubtedly a blow that Jonathan Evans received an offer from Bath that he could not refuse but hopefully scrum-half Sarel Pretorius will be a key figure in the development of the youth outside him, one of whom is his compatriot and Ebbw Vale utility back Carl Meyer, who will be Welsh-qualified at the end of his sporting visa.

The building needs to continue and the foreign voices of Landman, Harris, Boris Stankovich, Crosswell and Pretorius will play a key role in Jones executing the three-year plan that he talked about when he arrived at Rodney Parade.

At the moment there is a good mix of young Welsh exuberance and overseas influence. A few more imports would only speed up the development.