ROBERTS IN TALKS FOR SHOCK WALES RETURN

Jamie Roberts is in advanced talks to become Dragons’ third big-name signing of the summer.

The WRU-owned outfit has already signed Wales sensation Nick Tompkins on a season-long loan from Champions Cup holders Saracens, fellow international Jonah Holmes from Leicester Tigers and Welsh-qualified lock Joe Maksymiw from Connacht.

Roberts, who lived in Cwmbran as a youngster, is set to join them in Gwent.

He’s the latest building block in Dragons’ director of rugby Dean Ryan plans to assemble a dream team at Rodney Parade.

The former Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester boss, who has also bolstered his coaching staff, had originally targeted Australia centre or wing Joe Tomane, who has left Leinster.

But Ryan’s attention switched to Roberts following the coronavirus pandemic which brought Super Rugby to a halt just weeks after the centre powerhouse had joined South African franchise Stormers.

The 95-times capped Wales star and three-time Test Lion is 33 and has expressed a desire to finish a professional career that began at Cardiff Blues and continued at Racing 92, Harlequins and Bath with a Welsh region.

If the deal with the Dragons is finalised, the former Wales captain will be tasked with mentoring powerful Wales Under-20 centre Aneurin Owen.

They lacked firepower in midfield last season but a dream back-line of Wales internationals Rhodri Williams and Sam Davies at half-back, Roberts and Tompkins in the centre, with speedsters Holmes, Ashton Hewitt, Jordan Williams Rio Dyer and Dafydd Howells competing for back three spots, has the potential to spread fear among opponents. Dragons already possess back-row options which include Wales caps Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright, Ollie Griffiths and prodigiously talented youngster Taine Basham while their frontrow resources include internationals Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Richard Hibbard and Aaron Jarvis.

They today announced the signing of loosehead prop Harry Fry from Gloucester. The 19-year-old, who went to Radyr Comprehensive School in Cardiff, was capped by England at under-18 level.

He will join his 21-year-old brother, back-row forward Ben Fry, in Gwent.

“Harry is a young loosehead that we’re looking forward to bringing back to Wales and into our environment, where he will learn from the senior professionals around him,” predicted former England back-row powerhouse Ryan.

Harry Fry said: “I’m buzzing to have signed for Dragons and looking forward to seeing what challenges and opportunities are ahead of me.

“It’s a team that is growing with a lot of ambition and promise so I’m looking forward to getting started.”