Be answer toWales’ says coach Jackman
Hallam Amos deserved it and we feel if flanker Ollie Griffiths hadn’t got injured he would have been very close, while wing Ashton Hewitt isn’t far away.
“That’s a massive change for the Dragons in terms of having five or maybe seven in a national squad. That’s where we want to get to and next year we want even more, hopefully 10 or 11.”
Jackman is hopeful having a growing contingent of Wales players can help in his bid to attract more exiles, after already snapping up Williams and Lions and Wales back-row star Ross Moriarty from Gloucester.
“It shows people outside this region that playing for the Dragons isn’t a handicap if you want to play for Wales,” declared the former Connacht and Leinster hooker.
“We would like to believe, as we change the environment, we can hopefully produce players for international rugby better than anyone else.
“That’s the environment I grew up in over in Ireland; you knew if you were getting in the starting XV for Leinster or Connacht you were at the right level to be in the mix to play international rugby.
“It’s very early days but having players like Elliot and Leon, who have come through our academy system, involved is a little win.
“With the retention and recruitment we’re doing, we’ll be a very different squad next year, which is what we need to do because everyone else is getting better.
“We need to get better and some of that is talent development from within and talent attraction from outside.”