NEWPORT Gwent Dragons outside half Dorian Jones is determined to develop his game after being able to concentrate on being a full-time professional as of this week.

The up-and-coming fly half is about to give up his role as rugby development officer at Brynmawr Foundation School to focus solely on his playing career, aiming to grow significantly as a No 10 for next season.

It has been a breakthrough year for Jones, 22, who has cemented his place as the Dragons’ first choice No 10 in recent months after starting the season third in line.

He began this campaign behind another rising star in Angus O’Brien and seasoned pro Jason Tovey in the pecking order at Rodney Parade.

But since starting February’s stunning 16-14 away victory to reigning Guinness PRO12 champions Leinster at the Dublin Royal Society, their first win away from home against the Irishmen, Jones hasn’t looked back after occupying the driving seat.

He helped steer the Dragons into the semi-final of the European Rugby Challenge Cup at the beginning of April after their thrilling 25-21 home triumph over fierce rivals Cardiff Blues before also helping them complete the double over Leinster in the league a week later.

Things weren’t so rosy though in their last two games when he was part of a team hammered in their last four Euro cup clash 45-16 to Edinburgh at Murrayfield or last week’s heavy 29-10 defeat to the Scarlets in the Judgement Day PRO12 showdown with the Scarlets at the Millennium Stadium in front of a league record-breaking crowd of 52,762 fans.

Jones is honest enough to admit he has plenty of work to do as he looks to achieve his real potential after playing 24 times for the Dragons this season.

He has already come a long way however. It was all so different back in September when he was starting his new job in Brynmawr, appointed by the Welsh Rugby Union’s England World Cup-winning head of rugby Josh Lewsey, and playing semi-professional rugby for Cross Keys in the Principality Premiership.

The son of Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones and brother of full back Geraint Rhys Jones, he was slotting in occasionally for the Gwent region, mostly as a replacement, while continuing to shine for Keys.

Jones said: “I started the season as third choice at the Dragons and it has been a long road to being able to get Tovey’s jersey.

“It really was down to me to fight for it after Angus had made it his own for a while. I just had to work hard and keep putting the hours in.

“I was lucky Lyn (Jones, Dragons’ director of rugby) gave me the opportunity.”

On having to give up his role at Brynmawr Foundation School, he said: “I’ve really enjoyed it there. It’s my old school and it’s great to put give something back.

“But I was missing quite a few afternoon sessions with the Dragons because of my commitment at the school and I would often miss out training with the forwards, so I’ve had to leave.”

He believes he is maturing with each game, acknowledging he gave too much time to Wales and Scarlets star full back Liam Williams to counter attack last weekend.

He said: “I’m hoping to get better and better and now that I’m training full days, I’m looking to kick on.

“I feel I am improving week on week. I’ve played in a few massive games for the Dragons recently – playing in front of more than 52,000 people against the Scarlets last week was an incredible experience for me.

“I played for Keys at the Millennium Stadium in last season’s Swale Cup final (the Gwent side losing to Pontypridd 21-8) and the occasion did affect my performance.

“I tried not to let it get to me this time. I think a couple of key things went against us against the Scarlets because we could have led 17-3 at one stage in the first half.

“I was surprised with how well most of our young boys dealt with the pressure and the atmosphere because we came out firing early on.

“I feel I gave them too much time on the ball with some of my kicks – something I could get away with most of the time in the Premiership, but not when you are playing against someone of Liam Williams’ quality.”