VICE-CAPTAIN Nick Crosswell and wing Tom Prydie are set to leave Newport Gwent Dragons after not being offered fresh contracts at Rodney Parade.

New Zealander Crosswell, who has played Super Rugby for the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders, has been a consistent performer since arriving from Manawatu in January, 2015.

The 30-year-old has made 52 appearances as a lock/back row forward and, along with hooker Rhys Thomas, was named as deputy to skipper Lewis Evans last summer.

Crosswell, who represented the Maori All Blacks, has played in 19 of 24 fixtures this season and head coach Kingsley Jones has previously expressed the need to find a place in the XV for such a dependable player.

However, the Dragons are looking overseas for new recruits and need to free up a non-Welsh spot on their roster. Crosswell is the unfortunate victim of the desire to add a big ball-carrying forward and the wealth of options in the 'back five' of their pack.

Number eight Ed Jackson and flankers Evans and Nic Cudd have recently signed fresh contracts, Ollie Griffiths and Harri Keddie are bright talents in the back row, while James Thomas, James Benjamin and recent recruit Robson Blake are other candidates currently on the books.

Wales international Cory Hill, South African Rynard Landman and Matthew Screech have been the specialist locks picked in the boilerhouse this season.

The Dragons management are also on the hunt for a fly-half/centre and an outside back, the latter of which is likely to see five-times capped speedster Prydie heading for pastures new after five seasons at Rodney Parade.

The 24-year-old from Porthcawl signed in 2012 and has made 88 appearances for the Dragons but has recently fallen down the pecking order.

South African Carl Meyer has established himself at full-back while Hallam Amos, Ashton Hewitt, Pat Howard and Adam Hughes are options out wide with a glut of young talent coming through.

The Dragons have 20-year-olds Lloyd Lewis and George Gasson on their roster while bright talents Will Talbot-Davies, Jared Rosser and Joe Goodchild are currently with Wales Under-20s for the Six Nations.

Barring a late change of heart Crosswell and Prydie will be leaving in the summer, although both will remain important members of the squad for the Guinness PRO12 run-in.

So far this season the Rodney Parade region have announced fresh contracts for captain Evans, Amos, prop Brok Harris, lock Landman, openside Cudd, number eight Jackson and centre Adam Warren.