NEWPORT RFC will have a new captain next season with the Black and Ambers braced for life without influential openside Ollie Griffiths.

Then head coach Sven Cronk made the 20-year-old from Newbridge the youngest skipper in the club's rich history last season and he led from the front when making 14 appearances.

The flanker also made his mark with Wales Under-20s in the Six Nations and is currently starring for them at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy.

And Griffiths made his first steps into regional rugby in 2014/15 and made seven appearances as a replacement, including a debut against Ulster at a packed Ravenhill.

The route to the Dragons' number 7 jersey is not exactly clear as he will be battling with Nic Cudd, one of the Guinness Pro12's top tacklers and breakdown exponents, and fellow young gun James Benjamin.

However, Newport are prepared for him not being in their ranks week in, week out and have already secured the return of former captain and openside flanker Craig Attwell after a year in Australia.

"I'm hoping that we will be without Ollie more often than not because that will mean he is being successful," said head coach Craig Warlow.

"It was pretty evident last season that he is a quality player and hopefully next season he will fulfil that potential and establish himself with the Dragons.

"We have plenty of candidates (to be captain) and we will see who emerges – create the right culture and leaders will emerge."

The Black and Ambers have confirmed that lock Adam Brown, hooker Will Evans, flanker Rhys Jenkins, wing Jonathan Morris, fly-half Matt O'Brien and back row forward Brendan Lampitt have re-signed for next season.

The six join utility back and prolific points scorer Geraint O'Driscoll and wing Elliot Frewen in penning fresh deals at Rodney Parade while the club has secured the returns of Attwell and lock/blindside Rhodri Jones from Australia and Ireland respectively.

Three Newport-born players are returning south from Ebbw Vale – wing Wes Cunliffe, loosehead John Lavender and number eight Spencer Gibson – while tighthead prop Tom Piper has joined from Llanharan.

Their recruitment is not over and Warlow, whose charges return for pre-season training on June 30, is looking to tap into the local market.

"We have been talking to lots of players and a key thing is making sure we have got good communication with local clubs, players and the Dragons and a system that works," said the former fly-half.

"We have got to be a bit more busy in terms of watching players in lower league and giving them opportunities to progress, something that people like (Ebbw Vale's) Jason Strange, (Bedwas') Steve Law and (Cross Keys') Greg Woods have done well for years."