Jones turns down Doncaster to stay at Dragons - whether as boss or forwards coach

The former prop has been calling the shots since the Rodney Parade region sacked Bernard Jackman in December.

Jones has thrown his hat into the ring to be the Irishman's permanent replacement and will be interviewed by chairman David Buttress in the coming days.

Wales attack coach Rob Howley and former Lions and England assistant Graham Rowntree are also on the Dragons' radar, while in-demand defence guru Shaun Edwards was on the brink of accepting the role of caretaker boss at the end of last year.

Buttress, pictured, and the board aim to decide on their man before Saturday's Judgement Day clash against the Scarlets with an announcement likely to follow next week.

Jones is under contract for another season and after holding talks with Championship club Doncaster, will stay in Gwent for 2019/20.

"I am going to be with the Dragons next year," said Jones, who joined the region from Worcester in 2016. "I am in the application process for the head coach role and will be speaking with David this week.

"We will see where we go from there but I have committed my future to the Dragons. I went for an interview up in Doncaster and was offered the position, but this time I didn't feel it was right for me.

"I still think we can achieve a huge amount at the Dragons, even though it has been a really difficult season.

"I still think there is massive ambition and focus here, and we have a really good core group that can make something special happen."

If the top job goes to a coach who will be at the World Cup rather than Jones then the forwards coach will be in charge for pre-season and the opening months of the new campaign.

"Head coach is something that I would like to do but it's how I can best serve the region," said Jones.

"If the management and everyone concerned considers it best for me to lead the region as head coach then I will give it my best shot.

"I certainly wish to do that, but if they look at me in a forwards role then all I want to do is make the Dragons better.

"I am from this region and I am passionate about this region, I want us to get better and I want us to move forward."

Jones led the Dragons to a first derby win in four years when they beat the Ospreys in December but they have won just one of ten games since, and that was against Romanian minnows Timisoara Saracens in the European Challenge Cup.

The region's nightmare streak on the road in the Guinness PRO14 continued when they drew with the Kings and lost to the Cheetahs on their South African double-header and they have given up home advantage for Judgement Day this weekend.

They have lost all six previous games at the Principality Stadium event and will be huge underdogs for their clash with the Scarlets.

The west Walians are desperate for a bonus-point win in their bid for Champions Cup qualification.

Wales centre Tyler Morgan is back in full training and set to boost the Dragons' midfield after being absent since suffering a shoulder injury against the Ospreys in March.