THE Dragons are poised to bring in 'no-nonsense' Wales Under-20s and Ebbw Vale back rower Owen Conquer, who has been likened to stalwart Harri Keddie.

The teenager is currently featuring for the Welsh youngsters in the Six Nations after catching the eye for the Steelmen in the Premiership.

Conquer was signed by the Eugene Cross Park club as part of their link-up with Christ College, Brecon.

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan has been keeping tabs on the blindside/number eight, who was previously with the Cardiff academy, and he is set to link up with the Rodney Parade club.

Conquer is seen as one for the future and more learning with the Steelmen, who are set to be part of the new Elite Domestic Competition next season, is likely before he is considered for senior rugby.

South Wales Argus: CHARGE: Owen Conquer has impressed for Ebbw Vale to earn Wales U20s actionCHARGE: Owen Conquer has impressed for Ebbw Vale to earn Wales U20s action (Image: NCR Photography)

"Ebbw Vale have done a fantastic job and Jason Strange is running a good ship up there," said Flanagan.

"He has exposed Owen to Premiership rugby and he has excelled, so then what is the next step to develop him?

"He came in and trained with our academy before the Six Nations to get that full-time feel for the Under-20s camp and he is most certainly someone who will stay around us."

Conquer played for Llantwit Fadre before heading to Ebbw, captained the Welsh Academicals and was capped by Wales Under-19s.

He is poised for a third appearance off the bench of the U20 Six Nations against Ireland in Cork after featuring against Scotland and England.

Ebbw Vale head coach Strange is excited by the potential of the back rower and compared him to 27-year-old Dragons centurion Keddie, who won the 2016 Premiership with the Eugene Cross Park club.

South Wales Argus: NCR PhotographyNCR Photography (Image: NCR Photography)

“Owen has been excellent for us and has played nearly every game,” said Strange, who signed the youngster for the Steelmen after being impressed when working with him at Christ College.

“He reminds me so much of Harrison Keddie when he joined us, he is very unassuming, no-nonsense and just gets the job done. You hardly hear him but he is tough and physical with a big strength of ball-carrying.

“He probably needs another year or two in the Premiership before being considered a fully-fledged professional. We need to be patient but he is talented.”

The Dragons are also likely to look to secure a deal with Newport RFC lock Barny Langton-Cryer, who has made a pair of United Rugby Championship appearances this season.