DRAGONS boss Bernard Jackman believes that powerhouse Ross Moriarty will drive up back row standards up through his actions rather than words.

The 23-year-old Wales international has signed a two-year deal to head to Rodney Parade from Gloucester next season.

Moriarty will add to a back row that features once-capped Wales contender Ollie Griffiths, international hopeful Harrison Keddie, in-form James Benjamin, a glut of promising prospects in Aaron Wainwright, Lennon Greggains, Max Williams and Taine Basham as well as Dragons stalwarts Lewis Evans and Nic Cudd.

Jackman believes that the arrival of the strong-running, hard-hitting Lions tourist will ensure that his teammates will want to follow his lead.

“Obviously they will have to raise their game now to make sure that they get game time and Ross will have to make sure he is playing well to stay in the team,” said the head coach.

“They are all the same age bracket, and how is this going to affect Lewis Evans and Nic Cudd? How are they going to come back [from injury]?

“I think it is going to raise the standards for everybody and what I like about Ross is that he doesn’t have to say very much, he just does it. That’s always nice because a lot of people talk the talk, but he walks it.

“Having that in our dressing room at Ystrad Mynach and on matdchday will make us stronger.”

Moriarty has played Test rugby at blindside and number eight but Jackman sees him primarily operating from the base of the scrum.

“For us he will play a lot at eight,” he said. “I want him carrying the ball a lot and off the back of the scrum, so I see eight as an area where he could be very effective for us.

“He is very dynamic, very powerful and it’s so nice when you’ve got a good scrum to have the ability to launch off it.”