CHRIS KIRWAN: Dragons' recruitment drive should be put on hold

Nobody knows if their next getaway will be in August, December or 2021 so, sadly for the retail business, it's prudent to keep the bank card in the underused wallet that now sits on the set of drawers rather than in the trouser pocket.

With tough times ahead it's wise exercise a bit of fiscal caution, and why should professional rugby be any different?

Forget the Vince Lombardi motivational quotes and replace them with Jim Bowen's "Keep out of the black and into the red".

In a normal year we'd already know some of the new recruits heading for the Dragons in the summer.

In 2020 we are yet to have any individuals revealed despite director of rugby Dean Ryan wanting to bolster his squad with a handful of individuals.

There is the prospect of Wales centre Nick Tompkins arriving on loan; this time there will be no talk of excitement about the Dragons 'project', it's just to keep on the Test radar while Saracens are in the English Championship.

Leicester have released wing/full-back Jonah Holmes from the final year of his contract after he held talks with the Welsh Rugby Union over a move to boost his Test hopes, with Rodney Parade the likely destination.

Action needs to be swift on those moves, and Holmes is an attractive signing when the WRU will pick up 80 per cent of his wages.

The Wales duo look set to arrive and are other more pressing needs in Ryan's roster – lock (required even before Cory Hill's departure), centre (even if Tompkins fills the Tyler Morgan void) and loosehead prop.

But isn't it a bit mad, crass even, to be contemplating signings in the current climate?

I acknowledge that us journalists love a bit of a tittle-tattle to excite readers and it could be argued that transfers provide a bit of escapism and optimism in these lockdown days.

However, we can't just pretend that professional rugby will be exactly the same when the pandemic eases; the Dragons should not recruit as though it's going to be a normal September.

We don't know what the calendar will look like, we don't know how much Test rugby there will be, we don't know whether Bristol versus the Dragons will be a mouth-watering European quarter-final that never happened, we don't know when punters will be able to take their normal place on the terrace, we don't know when Rodney Parade, Parc y Scarlets, Cardiff Arms Park and Principality Stadium will no longer be needed in pandemic plan.

We do know that pro sport is going to feel the pinch, we do know that belts will have to be tightened, we do know that sponsors will have to be charmed.

When players have already been furloughed or are on reduced pay (rather than a deferral) should a club really be chasing a new overseas forward, even if he would unquestionably improve the XV?

It would be wise for the Dragons to hold fire, both in terms of PR and to ensure that they can really afford a costly purchase, no matter how much they'd like it.

Just because the money was there for Ryan at the start of 2020 doesn't necessarily mean it will be come the autumn.

There is sometimes the feeling that failure to act swiftly in a recruitment drive means missing out on all the prime talent.

But there will still be good players available come August, September and the autumn when there will hopefully be a bit more certainty about professional rugby. There may even be talented individuals unexpectedly coming back on the market courtesy of these strange times.

The Dragons don't need to rush into paying another player's wage when prime concern should be protecting the employment of staff, rugby and non-rugby.

Talent will still be available when we are no longer in lockdown and if the right fit isn't there then the signing can wait, the coaching staff will just have to wait until 2021 or perhaps Ryan can dip into the short-term loan market.

The Dragons made progress in the curtailed 2019/20 and there is frustration that they have been denied the chance to keep building.

It would be great to bring in someone to have as big an impact as 2019 arrival Sam Davies but perhaps next season presents the chance to just suck it up for a year and keep working with what is there.

Get another year of development in the group on the books while saving a bit of money that could always go towards the next recruitment push.

If Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright and Taine Basham are away because of a glut of Test rugby then use the opportunity to bring through Lennon Greggains and Ben Fry.

See if Max Williams can take a step forward at lock and give Wales Under-20s prospect Ben Carter a taste of life with the big boys.

Use veterans Brok Harris, Aaron Jarvis and Richard Hibbard while continuing to teach novices Josh Reynolds, Chris Coleman and Ellis Shipp the dark arts.

Give highly-rated centre Aneurin Owen the chance to experience the step up after shining at Under-20 level.

Any signing on a two-year contract is a risk but the need for success is even greater when money is tight.

The financial impact of coronavirus is going to lead to all clubs, not just the Dragons, leaning heavily on their academies. Why spend £60,000 on squad filler when an up-and-comer can provide the cover at a fraction of the cost?

That the Dragons’ paper-thin squad needs bolstering is undeniable, nor is it up for debate that more quality is needed in key positions.

But what is the rush? Ryan’s shopping list should be put away until there is more certainty about what is to come in 2020/21.