SUNDAY newspaper supplements suggesting £10,000 lamps that can transform a living room or tipping the hottest spots for buying a holiday cottage swiftly find their way into my recycling bin. The Dragons would have found the rugby news from the start of this week just as relevant.

Since South Africa lifted the World Cup things have turned from engrossing on-field action to money matters.

On Monday it was Munster and their pursuit of two triumphant Springboks with centre Damian de Allende and lock RG Snyman set to head to Thomond Park next season.

On Tuesday it was the Saracens scandal with the English champions slapped with a 35-point deduction and £5.36million fine for salary cap breaches over three seasons.

That links in with the rumour of the return to Welsh rugby from Allianz Park of Lions full-back Liam Williams, who the Ospreys are said to be interested in signing.

South Wales Argus:

In the other code, Super League new boys Toronto have moved for New Zealand star Sonny Bill Williams. It's reported that he will earn £2.6million a year for swapping the All Blacks for the Wolfpack.

The sums involved are a world away from the reality that Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan operates in.

The fine slapped on Sarries is bigger than the Rodney Parade region's current playing budget and the Boks pair would no doubt take up almost a fifth of their spending power.

Many of us occasionally ponder what we'd do with a million quid, well that could be something that Ryan is mulling over in the coming months when a new funding model between the Welsh Rugby Union and the regions is thrashed out.

The Dragons could well get a few more pennies but it's all relative; they'd still be holidaying at Butlin's Minehead rather than Sandals Montego Bay.

All of the regions need more money to cut the gap to the Irish provinces – who operate in Sarries territory – but if a windfall came Ryan' way there is no chance that he would spent it on a signing in the sphere of De Allende.

The Dragons always operate an injury or two away from total disaster such is the lack of squad depth.

At the moment they are without locks Cory Hill and Brandon Nansen, leaving them down to Matthew Screech and Joe Davies with prospect Max Williams their back-up.

With Josh Lewis out for the season an awful lot is riding on Sam Davies staying fit at fly-half while the loss of Ryan Bevington leaves the Dragons desperately needing Aaron Jarvis to return soon after 11 months out with a hamstring injury.

He's primarily a tighthead but would be welcome loosehead cover for Brok Harris, who at 34 is shouldering a big burden on the left of the scrum.

That the first-choice prop, who has been a superb servant to the Dragons since joining from the Stormers in 2014, is only on a short-term deal goes to show the penny-pinching that has become the norm at Rodney Parade.

Munster will probably spend more on biltong for their new South African duo that the Dragons can fork out for their compatriot, who will make their 114th appearance for the club in Edinburgh this weekend.

In the summer Hallam Amos left for Cardiff Blues and the World Cup star's replacement has been Owen Jenkins, who is looking for a return to 15s from sevens.

He's combined in the back three with Jordan Williams and Ashton Hewitt but if one of them was to join Jared Rosser on the injury list then it's Will Talbot-Davies (17 senior appearances) next up, then one of a the raw academy prospects.

South Wales Argus:

If Ryan was offered another £1million then it's unlikely he would spend it on stellar names (if they'd come), instead it would no doubt be used to bulk out his squad.

There is more value in two £150,000 signings than one £300,000 international. That's the reality of life at the Dragons and the former England forward would have known that before shaking hands with chairman David Buttress over the summer.

Ryan has arrived at Rodney Parade in an upbeat mood, frequently stating that he can't be too concerned at losing individuals to injury and that it has to be a case of just getting the next man in.

Young flanker Taine Basham has admirably filled the sizeable gaps left by Wales internationals Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty plus Ollie Griffiths, whose injury misfortune continues.

Jenkins has been a real hit on the wing and has earned the right to stay with the Dragons if a deal can be struck with sevens bosses for his time.

That's the only way for the Dragons and they will continue to lean heavily on the academy while Ryan shapes the squad to be his own, with value and versatility key factors with any new recruits.

They have to ignore what is being spent elsewhere and accept that their best players will eventually be picked off.

All they can do is create an environment that allows them to land the occasional blow on those with deeper pockets.