BETTER times are surely just around the corner for Newport Gwent Dragons.

Whereas the other three Welsh rugby regions appear to be stagnating or even going backwards, it’s onwards and upwards for the Dragons.

Having visited their training headquarters and the newly developed Rodney Parade ground on successive days last week, the overriding impression is one of real progress being made on and off the pitch.

Signings may be limited so far, ex-Ulster full back Jamie Smith being the most notable, but there could be one or two more while all the promising youngsters are a year older and more experienced now.

The sky's the limit for back row pair Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau while a lot more is expected from others like Jason Tovey and Adam Hughes, and Lloyd Burns is coming up fast on the rails.

It's not just that though, there is a really progressive young coaching team, the management is clued up and progressive and the training session I saw looked full of purpose with clear systems in place.

And the new stand and hospitality suite and boxes are well on the way to being completed on schedule by the end of August with non-rugby related bookings for the suite coming in thick and fast.

It will all turn the ground into a real cauldron, especially for the Welsh derbies. They were atmospheric enough when it was half full towards the end of last season.

So imagine how it will be buzzing with the place bursting at the seams. Wales coach Warren Gatland likes it now - he's going to love it in the new season.

First there is the small matter of the World Cup, and Welsh chances look even more grim after group opponents Samoa beat Australia at the weekend.

Reaching the quarter-finals appears an even more difficult task now, with world champions South Africa and Fiji, who beat Samoa last week, all lying in wait in the ‘group of death.’ But even if there is another World Cup disaster, the Dragons and Rodney Parade could just put the smile back on the face of Welsh rugby.