FORMER Newport Gwent Dragons star Ashley Smith has called on the Men of Gwent to make Rodney Parade a fortress this season.

Smith watched in frustration last term as the Welsh region endured a hugely disappointing Guinness Pro12 campaign, losing six of their ten home league matches.

The Dragons have always taken pride in their form in front of the Rodney Parade faithful, yet that suffered towards the back end of the campaign.

Smith, forced to retire last May at the age of 28 following a series of blows to the head, wants the Newport-based side to rediscover their touch on home soil.

And he believes they are not far away from turning all of those single-point defeats of last season into positive results this time around.

“Last season wasn’t the most successful and I know the players were disappointed with it,” said Smith, who will be at Rodney Parade tomorrow for his and Lewis Evans’ beneficiary match against Cardiff Blues (7.30pm).

“They had a lot of injuries to key players who were out for long periods. Hopefully things will improve on that front this season and they can keep the core of the squad fit.

“They lost so many games by a point last season. If you can turn half of those into wins then that will give you an extra 12-15 points. They are not far away from being able to do that.”

He added: “This season they need to try and win as many home games as possible.

“Whenever they have been successful in the past they have had good home form.

“Rodney Parade should be a fortress and the Dragons need to make it one.

“If they can win a few away games as well then that will be a bonus.”

Smith, meanwhile, has welcomed the decision to make Evans the Dragons’ new captain for the 2016/17 season, and he feels the region is in good hands with Kingsley Jones at the helm.

“The captaincy should go to someone who is local and knows the area,” he added.

“Lewis has been there for 11 seasons now and has the respect of all the boys.

“Kingsley is an excellent man manager and is really good with the players.

“The boys respect him and he manages the lads well.”

Former centre Smith, who made 161 appearances for the Men of Gwent and also played for Newport RFC, is now working in sales for Caldicot-based company Estuary Oils.