PROMOTION-CHASING Pontypool have signed a quartet of promising prospects ahead of the vital defence of their WRU National Championship crown.

Pooler have snapped up fly-half Matthew Lewis, scrum-half Tomas Bainton, centre/wing Luke Basham and centre Joel Mahoney.

Lewis, 19, was a member of the Dragons academy and played for the club last season on permit from Bargoed.

"Matthew is an exciting prospect who has already experienced top-flight Welsh club rugby, despite his young age," said backs coach Matthew Jones, who Lewis will rival for the 10 jersey.

"He is a good distributor of the ball who will certainly get our backline moving when given the chance and his kicking abilities will also add an extra dimension to our game."

Bainton, 19, arrives from Newbridge has trained with the club since the turn of the year while Basham, 21, makes the short move from Talywain.

Jones said: "Tomas is very much a known quantity to me as I previously coached him in my role at Cross Keys College. He has a great work ethic and a desire to keep learning and developing.

"Luke has done a fantastic job whilst at Talywain RFC last season and enjoyed a very good run of form.

"He is a player with a great skillset and I have every confidence that he will realise that potential with us in the coming seasons."

Mahoney, from Garndiffaith, joins on a permanent basis after playing for Pooler on permit from the Dragons academy last year.

"I really enjoyed my first year at Pontypool." said the 19-year-old. "The club has such a great environment and the decision to commit my future to Pontypool Park was an easy one.

"To have played a role in the club achieving an unbeaten league season is something I will always remember, but I am now looking forward to kicking on and working hard to establish myself in the starting squad."