WARREN Gatland believes the good vibes coming out of the Dragons will make it easier to attract top quality players – and says boss Bernard Jackman will have the financial backing to target quality from overseas.

The Wales head coach was instrumental in bringing the Irishman, who he coached at Connacht, to Rodney Parade following the takeover of the region by the Welsh Rugby Union.

Jackman was quick to state that he would give all of his Dragons squad a chance to impress in the first year of his regime, but that there will be “casualties” next summer as he transforms his side.

And Gatland believe the east can take inspiration from the champions out west by supplementing bright local talent like Hallam Amos, Ashton Hewitt, Ollie Griffiths and Leon Brown with some seasoned imports.

“All the stuff coming out of the Dragons at the moment is very positive and there are a lot of good vibes,” said Gatland.

“We have spoken a lot to Bernard about this as a three-year plan and we have seen what he is doing with rotating and resting players. Players who are rested for a week are going to a conditioning phase because he is thinking long-term.

“The pleasing thing is that with the Union taking over they will have an increased spend on the salary cap which is equal to the other regions for next year, which means he has some money at his disposal to strengthen the squad as well.

“Looking at that group of players, in two or three years they can be a really competitive squad and it’s where the Scarlets were.

“They went through that phase where they blooded and developed some younger players, [then] they attracted some real quality to strengthen the squad with Jonathan Davies coming back, Johnny McNicholl has been a great signing, Hadleigh Parkes.

“Steff Evans has stepped up to the plate, other players’ experience is coming to the fore with the front row and Aaron Shingler.

“They have a nice balance from where they were three years ago, potentially the Dragons could be in the same boat going forward.”

The Dragons have traditionally been hard to sell to players but Gatland says the chatter from agents suggests that is changing as Jackman prepares to not only add quantity but quality.

“In the past it has been hard [to attract players] but there has been so much positivity coming out of the Dragons in terms of the environment,” said the New Zealander.

“Everybody is talking about that – we are hearing it from the players and the agents. They are talking about how things have changes in terms of the training and preparing.

“Not just in the short term but looking at the future in terms of the strengthening of the squad and attracting some quality experienced players or one or two really quality overseas players.”

Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips has previously stated that they have a desire for the Dragons to tap into the exiles market in England.