BEDWAS boss Steve Law has predicted a bright future for Robson Blake after the burgeoning back row forward penned a contract with Newport Gwent Dragons.

The 21-year-old, who can also play lock, has signed a dual deal between the Bridge Field and Rodney Parade sides in 2016/17 that will become a professional contract with the Dragons next term.

The tree surgeon has been a huge hit with Bedwas since signing from Bedlinog at the start of the season and was named as Premiership player of the month in October.

He made his regional bow off the bench in the Dragons’ Anglo-Welsh Cup defeat at Leicester, making some trademark strong carries, and has also featured in the British and Irish Cup encounters with Bedford and Ealing.

Head coach Steve Law said: “We always thought that Robson would be better than your standard Premiership player.

“A number of the regions had been looking at him and the Dragons have made a smart call in signing him.

“He was born with a rugby brain. We’ve pushed him as a club to develop, but more importantly, he has pushed himself and now he’s being recognised for that.

“He is naturally strong and powerful and working with the Dragons will help him further improve his strength and conditioning.”

Blake will hope to follow the lead of fellow back row forward/lock James Thomas, who is on the books at Rodney Parade thanks to proving himself with Bedwas after being cut from the Dragons academy.

Lock Ashley Sweet, currently on the comeback trail from a pectoral injury, signed a full-time contract last summer after impressing when helping Ebbw Vale win the Premiership while hooker Rhys Buckley first got a chance as a pro in 2011 by standing out with Pontypool before re-signing with the Dragons in 2014 after a spell with Moseley in the English Championship.

South African full-back Carl Meyer, a former Sharks academy player, arrived in Ebbw on a three-year sporting visa with the intention of catching the eye of professional teams and after training with the Dragons penned a contract and has become a mainstay of the XV.

Fly-half Dorian Jones also earned a deal by impressing for Ebbw and Cross Keys while his brother, full-back Geraint Rhys Jones, did the same thanks to his exploits with Wales 7s and Keys.

Blake will be seen as a development project by the Dragons, who already boast strong back row options in the form of captain Lewis Evans, in-form number eight Ed Jackson, influential New Zealander Nick Crosswell, bright prospects Ollie Griffiths and Harri Keddie, Thomas, James Benjamin and specialist openside Nic Cudd.