Willis, Arlidge and Webb have each signed a two-year contract with the region since Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins and Head Coach Paul Turner embarked on their overseas recruiting plan in New Zealand.
And the Dragons have announced further commercial signatures in the shape of Motorpoint, who have pledged two years (with a third year option) to the region as title shirt sponsors of the Newport Gwent Dragons.
The contract signings follow the submission of the planning application for a 15,000 capacity Rodney Parade stadium.
Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins said: “The signings reflect the ambition of the Dragons ahead of the imminent Stadium redevelopment. When Paul and I travelled to New Zealand we were determined to secure quality and experienced players to compliment the experience and emerging talent already nurtured by the Dragons within the region.
“It is important to ensure that we are signing the right type of players to join the Dragons and this formed a key reason for our trip to New Zealand. We explained our plans and the direction that the team is going and, as a result, the players have committed themselves to the Dragons for the coming two years. There are certainly exciting times ahead for the region and the signings reflect the growing confidence here at Rodney Parade.”
29 year old hooker Tom Willis, also a qualified lawyer, has over 60 games experience as player and captain in Super 14 for Waikato Chiefs and five caps for the All Blacks in 2001-2002 and New Zealand born fly half James Aldridge also has experience on the world circuit, making a successful debut for Japan last year against South Korea with two tries and ten conversions.
No.8 Grant Webb, also 29 years old, has played Super 14 and NPC rugby in New Zealand with Otago Highlanders and Hawks Bay and also spent some time in Japan playing for Toyota. He has also featured for Ulster Rugby in the 2007-2008 season, bringing experience of the Magners League and Heineken Cup.
The experienced New Zealanders will join an array of indigenous talent at the Dragons next season, including young Academy players Adam Brown, Jason Tovey, Jimmy Norris and James Lewis and the experienced Shaun Connor and Taliesin Selley who have recently put pen to paper at the region.
Off the field, the Dragons Chief Executive welcomes the major signing of Motorpoint. He added: “Robust recruitment at the Dragons has been driven alongside the strong growth in our commerical programme. Motorpoint have commited to the region for the next two years and this is indicative of the growing business confidence in the Dragons region.”
Russell Louth, General Manager of Motorpoint Newport said: “We are always looking at ways of raising our profile, and are excited to be associated with the Dragons who have such great local support.”
