Black and Ambers boosted as key quartet commit to club

Flanker Rhys Jenkins, fly-half Matt O'Brien, wing/centre Jonny Morris and utility back Geraint O'Driscoll will be at Rodney Parade whenever the 2020/21 Premiership campaign gets up and running.

Combative Jenkins has been a mainstay of the Black and Ambers back row since joining the club in 2010.

The former Wales Under-20s international came through the Dragons academy and made a solitary regional appearance against the Ospreys in 2010. He has racked up 157 appearances for Newport, earning the honour of club captain.

O'Brien (pictured above) has made 133 appearances and is closing in on 1,000 points for Newport.

The playmaker, who coaches the Dragons academy, signed in 2013 and led the side out in the WRU National Cup final in 2018.

O'Driscoll moved to Rodney Parade from Pontypool in 2012 and has totted up 169 appearances, scoring 748 points for the club, although O'Brien has taken over with the tee in recent years.

The 32-year-old is comfortable at fly-half, full-back or midfield and started for the Dragons on the wing against Connacht in 2011, going on to make three more outings off the bench.

Morris (pictured above) has made an impression with his elusive running since joining from Newbridge in 2014, initially on the wing and now also at outside centre.

The 27-year-old, who coaches Newport Saracens, has crossed for 41 tries in 112 appearances.

Head coach Ty Morris is pleased to have secured the services of four players with a combined tally of 571 games for the club.

"They are all key players for us, players that other teams would love to have," said Morris.

"I don't know how Rhys keeps going! Every game he is an 8, 9 or 10 out of 10. He doesn't say a lot but he leads from the front and everyone follows.

"After having a few seasons hit by injury he was staying fit and involved in every game, so he's probably as annoyed as anyone at the way the season ended.

"With 'OB' it's his ability to change a game. His understanding has come on and this season there was a massive improvement in his game management, helped by his coaching with the Dragons and Wales 7s.

"Geraint (pictured above) is a consistent performer with great control no matter what position we ask him to play. He filled in at 12 this season but we saw in the last few games what he can do from full-back and that's where we hope to see him next year.

"I think that Jonny is one of the most underrated players in the Premiership. He showed what he can do on the wing and has now done it at 13.

"He is a real athlete and a physical specimen and the way that he plays makes him a real crowd favourite."

Newport endured a stop-start season that was ended early, with seven fixtures to play, after the Welsh Rugby Union cancelled all their competitions.

That denied the Black and Ambers the chance to push for the top six and a place in the 2021 competition with Scottish sides.

They sat eighth in the table but with games in hand on all their rivals above.