A QUINTET of props have signed up to stay at Newport and lay the foundations at the scrum when the Premiership returns.

Garin Harris, Louis Jones, Tom Piper, Dan Preece and Lewis Smout have agreed fresh deals with the Black and Ambers.

Tighthead Harris signed from Pontypool in 2016 and the 24-year-old has made 92 appearances to close in on his club cap.

Piper has already brought up three figures and the 32-year-old from Newport, who signed in 2015, will add to his 113 outings next season.

Jones made a big impact after arriving from Merthyr last season, featuring in 14 of 16 fixtures on either side of the scrum.

Preece is a firm fixture in the Premiership after previously playing for Cross Keys, Ebbw Vale and Bedwas. The 33-year-old loosehead has made 31 appearances.

Smout signed from Keys in 2018 and quickly established himself in the squad to make 45 appearances.

The props follow a raft of re-signings with more to come.

So far captain and flanker Rhys Jenkins and fellow forwards Kyle Tayler, Rhodri Jones, Joe Bartlett, Elliot Ferriman, Andrew Mann, Dan Partridge and Josh Skinner have re-signed along with vice-captain and fly-half Matt O’Brien and Geraint O’Driscoll, Jon Morris, Elliot Frewen, Geraint Watkin, Jack Wright, Harry Griffiths and Luke Crane.