OLLIE Griffiths aims to put the heat on Nic Cudd at Newport Gwent Dragons next season after penning his first professional contract.

The 20-year-old openside from Newbridge has been ear-marked as a star for the future after being the standout player in the Under-20s Six Nations.

Griffiths, the youngest captain in Newport RFC's history, also made his senior Dragons breakthrough in 2014/15, making seven appearances off the bench.

And next term the flanker intends to press hard for a first start ahead of Cudd, who has established himself as a key figure, and fellow young gun James Benjamin, who made 16 appearances.

"I am pleased to have signed a contract at the Dragons and now my aim is to get a few more appearances and push on from there," he said.

"Nic and James are really good players and it's up to me to keep on improving and to challenge hard for starts.

"I think that I have become a better and more rounded player this season – I have learnt a lot and picked up bits and bobs off senior players while the experience of the Six Nations and a few Dragons games helped a lot."

First on the agenda, however, is leading the charge at the Junior World Championship in Italy with Wales Under-20s.

The youngsters, like Warren Gatland's seniors, have been drawn in a tricky group with double world champions and Six Nations winners England, France and Japan.

First up are Les Bleuets on Tuesday with the Welsh squad looking for revenge after a 27-5 hammering when the sides met in St Gaudens last February.

"We didn't throw anything at France in attack in the Six Nations and defending for most of the game but we have come on a lot as a team since then," said Griffiths.

"It's a tough group but we are looking forward to the tournament and are confident – our win against England shows what we are capable of doing."

Griffiths is joined by six fellow Dragons youngsters in the squad – wing Lloyd Lewis, centre/wing Barney Nightingale, props Keagan Bale, Leon Brown and Luke Garrett and blindside/number eight Harri Keddie.

Wales U20 fixtures: France – Tuesday, June 2 (3.30pm); England – Saturday, June 6 (7.30pm); Japan – Wednesday, June 10 (5.30pm). Semi-finals and playoff games – Monday, June 15. Final and playoff games – Saturday, June 20. (Games live on S4C).