CROSS Keys have continued to build for the British and Irish Cup by securing the return of hooker Gerwyn Price from Neath.

The Pandy Park outfit finished sixth in the Premiership last season and earned the final Welsh place in the 2011/12 cross-border competition by beating rivals Newport in a play-off.

They recognise the need to strengthen their squad if they are to build on a successful campaign, especially given the extra energy-sapping fixtures against full-time foreign opposition.

Lloyd Burns is now a full-time Dragon and Richard Emms has retired so Price will battle with Garry Horrigan and Dragons Academy prospect Jamie Sollis for the number two jersey.

"Gerwyn is the right fit for us," said head coach Greg Woods about the 26-year-old from Markham.

"He is an experienced Premiership player but is also an age where he can make an impression at the level above.

"He has got fantastic footballing ability and his powerful and evasive ball-carrying will be massively important to us.

"Gerwyn has plenty of medals in his back pocket after a number of seasons with Neath and his experience of the British and Irish Cup will be invaluable.

"We’ve been lucky to have some superb hookers at Keys recently in Garry Horrigan, Lloyd Burns and Richard Emms, who was excellent for us.

"At times Emmsy was our only hooker and it will be hugely important for us to have three quality hookers all raring to go and fighting for the start."

Price is the fourth arrival at Pandy Park of the summer after the signings of prop Ian George, flanker Cae Trayhern and scrum-half Rhys Dyer and the midfield is set to be strengthened.

Meanwhile, Keys fly out to Newfoundland in Canada tomorrow for a two-game end-of-season tour.

They take on club side Swilers RFC on Monday before taking on The Rock, who boast former Newport favourite Rod Snow in their squad, on Friday.

"It’s a lovely way to finish a great season," said Woods. "We’re taking our first XV and are taking it seriously – we expect two tough games.

"The Rock have played us twice at Pandy Park over the last two years and they were hard fixtures, so we expect the same again."