DRAGONS boss Dean Ryan wants to extend defence coach Simon Cross' summer job into the upcoming season.

The 38-year-old former Edinburgh captain has spent the summer as a member of the Rodney Parade region's backroom team.

Cross has been able to fit in working with the Dragons in pre-season while not needed in his full-time role as head of rugby at Royal Grammar School Worcester.

However, the ex-flanker will return to his day job in the coming weeks, leaving new director of rugby Ryan with a gap in his management team.

The hope is that a compromise can be struck whereby Cross is able to fit in sessions at the Dragons' Ystrad Mynach training base along with his commitments in Worcester.

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"That's the challenge but I am prepared to do the right things and get the right people," said Ryan, who worked with Cross when he was boss at the Warriors.

"I said right at the beginning that we've got to make decisions that are right for this business in the long term and not what solves problems in the next week or so.

"If we have to continue to make compromises then I'd rather wait and get the right people.

"Simon needs to talk to some people at the school but we just love to have him around and the squad hope that plays out in the same way, because they recognise how much he commits to helping people.

"But we also recognise that he has got a job somewhere else, so we've got to try to work out how to do it."

READ MORE: Cross a shrewd appointment by Dragons

Last season the Dragons sacked defence coach Hendre Marnitz in November, head coach Bernard Jackman took over the role until he was dismissed in December and then academy manager James Chapron held the reins until the end of the campaign.

Ryan believes Cross has the right qualities to make an impact if a deal can be struck.

"I've known Simon a long time and I think he is a great coach and a great support coach who wants people to get better," said the former England number eight.

"He is not interested in whether he shouts louder than anyone else, he just wants you to get better and will do anything he can with the time he has got to help.

"That has been really well received by the players and if we keep investing in the group, they want to work hard and they are prepared to learn then we will get better."

Ryan has officially been at the helm since the start of June and is relishing seeing his charges in action with a stronger side likely to be named for Saturday's Celtic Cup encounter at Cardiff Blues then a double-header, the development competition then seniors, against the Scarlets in Newport the following weekend.

"We are ready to play. It's been a long pre-season and they have trained really well," said the director of rugby, whose first PRO14 game is against Munster in Limerick on Saturday, September 28.

"I am trying to get everyone to understand what our priorities are and I think they have done really well.

"I just want to see people play now, I've got ideas about someone who has trained well but I just want to see them play."