IRISH prop Conor Maguire has left the Dragons after securing a deal with Gloucester.

Maguire headed to Rodney Parade last March when the region had a prop crisis and he made a brief cameo against Benetton in the Guinness PRO14, the last game before the competition was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 23-year-old, who has played Celtic Cup rugby for Leinster and Connacht, returned after lockdown and played in the August derby fixtures against the Ospreys and Scarlets.

Maguire impressed the management with his attitude and, after signing a short-term deal to cover for injuries, went on to make substitute appearances against Leinster, Munster, Glasgow and Bordeaux-Begles.

CHARGE: Conor Maguire in action for the Dragons against the Ospreys

CHARGE: Conor Maguire in action for the Dragons against the Ospreys

The mobile prop, nicknamed ‘the Bull’, has now made the short trip to Gloucester and will push for Premiership action with the Cherry and Whites.

The Dragons have Brok Harris, fit-again Greg Bateman, Aaron Jarvis and up-and-coming Josh Reynolds as their options at loosehead.

The region was meant to be in action in the Guinness PRO14 tonight but their fixture against Edinburgh was postponed on Thursday because of a frozen Rodney Parade pitch.

The Dragons face Leinster in Newport next weekend when they hope to have finalised a deal for a short-term signing in the back row.

They would have down to the bare bones for Edinburgh with a lock likely to have joined Huw Taylor and Ben Fry in the back row, backed up by academy prospect George Young.

That is because they are without Aaron Wainwright because of Six Nations duty along with Ross Moriarty (ankle), Ollie Griffiths (ankle), Harri Keddie (concussion), Taine Basham (fractured forearm), Lewis Evans (calf), Lennon Greggains (shoulder) and James Benjamin (leg).