CROSS Keys will hold discussions with Newport Gwent Dragons before pressing on with their recruitment drive after sealing qualification for the British and Irish Cup.

The Pandy Park outfit beat Newport 25-18 on Thursday evening to earn a place in next season’s cross-border competition.

Keys have already signed prop Ian George and scrum-half Rhys Dyer from Cardiff while on-permit flanker Cae Trayhern, who made a real impact off the bench against the Black and Ambers, has made his move from Pontypool permanent.

However, more additions will be needed if Keys are to compete when they go up against English, Irish and Scottish opposition.

“The Dragons has said that the competition is a stepping stone for players and we will have discussions with them about next season,” said head coach Greg Woods.

“That will shape our recruitment to some extent but we are in pretty healthy condition and we don’t need a raft of signings like we did last summer.

“However, I think there is no doubt that with more tough games next year we do need to add to our squad.”

One player who does look to be on the way out is wing Jamie Davies, who appears to be moving back to west Wales after the Dragons chose not to renew his deal.

But Woods is looking forward to George, primarily a loosehead but who can also fill in at tighthead, and Dyer coming into the mix.

“Ian will strengthen our pack and will keep the boys on their toes,” said Woods. “We have got a very good scrum but it is a signing that will freshen things up.

“Ian is a proven scrummager and importantly he wanted to come to us.

“We have been fortunate with injuries this season but we will have extra games and a heavier workload next year.

“That was our thinking with Rhys as well because we rain with just two scrum-halves this season.

“He has always performed well against us in the past and is a player who wants regular rugby and wants to be first choice.”

Meanwhile the Black and Ambers are no doubt experiencing relief that a chaotic season has come to an end.

Newport have used 74 players this campaign, with 33 of them making their debuts.

The inconsistency of selection played a huge part in making it a poor campaign for the Black and Ambers, though it was their lack of bonus points that meant they finished seventh despite having more wins than fifth-placed Swansea and sixth-placed Keys.

“It was a massively frustrating game and a massively frustrating season but in the end Keys deserve to be in the British and Irish Cup because they finished sixth in the table,” said head coach Sven Cronk.