WALES star Adam Jones should have signed for Newport Gwent Dragons, says national forwards coach Robin McBryde.

British and Irish Lions prop Jones caused a surprise when he joined Cardiff Blues on a one-year deal last week.

He left Ospreys at the end of last season and had been in limbo because of the ongoing dispute between the Welsh Rugby Union and the four Welsh regions.

If and when a new deal over the funding of the domestic game is resolved he had been expected to rejoin Ospreys.

But the 33-year-old, who has won 95 Wales caps, instead joined the side from the capital, where he will compete with fellow Welsh international tight-head props Craig Mitchell and Scott Andrews.

McBryde is pleased that Jones has found a club ahead of the autumn internationals but he believes the veteran would have been better off at Rodney Parade.

And he feels Welsh rugby would also have benefited because Jones, Mitchell and Andrews would all have been playing on a regular basis.

“From Adam’s point of view I’m just glad that he’s found someone to play for and he’s going to be playing rugby on a regular basis, which is great,” said McBryde.

“But I am surprised he’s gone to the Blues from a national perspective. They’ve got Craig Mitchell and Scott Andrews who are obviously Wales international tight-heads as well.

“It would have been great if he was at the Dragons, for instance, because that would have meant, maybe, they wouldn’t have to fork out a lot of money for a South African tight-head.

“From a national perspective, the more players you have got who are eligible to play for Wales playing in matches, the more you have to choose from so it is common sense. Craig Mitchell has come back from Exeter to play.”

The Dragons signed South African tight-head Juan 'Brok' Harris on a three-year contract earlier this month.

Dragons director of rugby Lyn Jones said: "Brok will offer the expertise and experience we need to help our young Gwent props grow into future Welsh international players.”

McBryde was speaking at The Vale Resort, which has been chosen to be the Welsh team’s training base for their home matches at next year’s World Cup.

Warren Gatland’s men will also train at London Irish ahead of their Group A matches against England and Australia at Twickenham.

Celtic Manor and Newport High School will be used by Ireland and Georgia during the tournament.

The final team in Group A – to be decided by a play-off between Russia and Uruguay – will also be based in Newport ahead of their game against Wales on September 20.