NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have signed Ebbw Vale lock Ashley Sweet with head coach Kingsley Jones declaring the Premiership title winner has all the tools to be a success as a pro.

The 27-year-old second row from Pontypool has penned a full-time one-year contract at Rodney Parade following the retirement of Andrew Coombs.

A canny lineout operator with an appetite for graft, Sweet will battle for starts with Rynard Landman, Cory Hill, Matthew Screech, Joe Davies and Scott Andrews.

His story is similar to that of Coombs as like the 10-times capped Wales international, he has fought back from being released by the Dragons.

The lock was a member of the Wales Under-20s side that featured Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies, Rhys Webb and Justin Tipuric.

He came through the Dragons academy but was released without making a regional appearance, going on to play for Cardiff RFC in 2009/10 before heading to Eugene Cross Park.

Sweet has been a major part of the Steelmen's success and his exploits in the Swalec Championship caught the eye of the Scarlets only for a potential deal to be scuppered by Nigel Davies' departure for Gloucester in 2012.

But the lock, who has been working as a rugby officer at Brynmawr School, has reaped the rewards of his efforts in helping Ebbw win the Principality Premiership title and is thrilled to be 'home'.

"I began my journey as part of the academy system and playing in the under-16s all of the way through to the under-20s and I have never given up on playing professionally for my home region," he said.

"It will be an honour to contribute to a successful Dragons side in the future and I would like to thank Kingsley for this opportunity."

Former Ebbw captain Jones liked what he saw in Sweet when the lock played against Doncaster, Jersey and Connacht Eagles in the British and Irish Cup last season.

"He is a player with all the characteristics to play at regional level," said the former Wales flanker.

"He performed extremely well for the Dragons Premiership Select team in the British and Irish Cup and is the sort of person who will add to our environment – he has earned the right to be given an opportunity at regional level.

"I look forward to Ashley taking this opportunity to showing his full potential and establishing himself within the squad."

Sweet is the fifth forward to join the Dragons this summer after the signings of props Sam Hobbs, Tom Davies and Craig Mitchell and hooker Darran Harris.

Centre Sam Beard, centre/wing Pat Howard and fly-half/full-back Nick Macleod have reinforced the three-quarters.