FORMER Wales star and Cross Keys backs coach Mark Ring will develop promising young players who it is hoped will go on to represent Newport Gwent Dragons.

Cross Keys RFC have entered into a partnership with the Dragons Junior Academy and Cross Keys College to help nurture players aged between 16 and 18.

The aim of the programme, funded by Keys, is to prepare youngsters looking to make the step-up to regional rugby.

It will also see players ‘fast-tracked’ for the club’s Premiership and British and Irish Cup fixtures.

The highly regarded Ring, a centre and outside-half, who won 32 caps for Wales between 1983 and 1991, will work with youngsters as part-time backs skills coach.

The Premiership club will also provide the services of ex-UWIC centre Josh Robinson as part-time strength and conditioning coach.

They will coach teenagers who are members of the Dragons Junior Aca-demy Programme at Cross Keys College.

Ring and Robinson will work alongside full-time forward skills coach Paul Young.

The Dragons Junior Academy Prog-ramme was established in 2009 to bridge the gap between regional age grade rugby and the Dragons Senior Academy.

The academy programme sets out to improve their skills as well as ‘physical and psychological development’.

Dragons performance programme manager Will Thomas said this latest initiative was good news for the region: “These new appointments will ensure our Junior Academy players have every opportunity to develop into national age grade, senior academy and eventually professional rugby players.”

Cross Keys director of rugby Jonathan Westwood added: “The club recognises and supports the way that the Premiership is heading towards a younger age profile with the aim to develop as many players for regional rugby as possible.”