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IT just could be that the lean days are coming to an end for Newport Gwent Dragons as fans eagerly anticipate the start of the new season.

It's been a struggle since the first season of regional rugby for the Dragons just to keep their heads above water. They have suffered from financial difficulties and a perceived lack of ambition off the field and insufficient talent on it.

A heavy injury list has exposed a lack of depth and only last season they went eight games without winning, having to rely on youngsters filling in against superior opposition.

But it really does look as though those sometimes desperate times are about to end after the squad has been considerably strengthened.

No-one is going to suggest the Dragons will win the Heineken Cup or the Magners League, but they are going to be more competitive and the squad does possess more depth.

Much needed quality has been added with the arrival of four New Zealanders, all with Super 14 or 12 experience while some decent home based players have signed up as well.

Head coach Paul Turner has been to New Zealand to bring players in who can stiffen the side. You can't blame him for that and all this banging on about too many non-Welsh players is considerably exaggerated.

If the required ability is not there, if there are too many youngsters involved you can't be expected to carry on in the same vein. On that evidence there is nothing wrong with signing a few overseas players especially when England and France, with whom Welsh teams have to compete in Europe, have far greater budgets.

So Turner has drafted in from New Zealand Tom Willis, a former All Blacks captain and hooker, number eight Grant Webb, lock Hoani MacDonald and outside half James Arlidge.

Also signed up are Shaun Connor, Tal Selley and Marc Stcherbina, three players with considerable experience and ability, reserve hooker Duane Goodfield and the possibility of a young Aussie back, which means the Dragons will have eight or nine new players, though MacDonald will be a month late joining up.

The New Zealand forwards will provide more power and ball carrying ability, sadly lacking last season, Arlidge and Connor will give the direction which was missing and Stcherbina and Selley the absent dash, verve and experience.

I've spoken to many fans in pubs, on the golf course and even at petrol stations who are actually looking forward to the season with a sense of anticipation. Now that makes a change.

At the risk of offending the Dragons' New Zealand contingent what a joy it was to watch the Springboks triumph in their own back yard courtesy of Ricky Januarie's glorious solo try.

And what about the NZ infrastructure? Internationals grounds with a capacity of little more than 40,000 with single tier stands which they can't even fill. The World Cup there in 2011 looks like being absolute chaos.

12:00pm Tuesday 15th July 2008

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