Dragons sign Ospreys wing Dafydd Howells on a two-year contract

Head Coach Bernard Jackman has confirmed the Dragons have signed Ospreys wing Dafydd Howells on a two-year contract.

Twenty-three-year-old Howells played 42 times for the Ospreys scoring 12 tries over the last five seasons and joins the Dragons after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained early on last season.

“After being first choice for the Ospreys last season playing 22 games, Dafydd’s been unlucky this campaign picking up an injury which has ruled him out of much of the season, but he’ll be back fit and ready to impress for us next year,” said Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman.

“We’re fortunate enough to have genuine pace through our backline particularly in the back three, but he’s been a great talent from a young age and he’s still young now so he can make a big impact for us.”

Howells enjoyed his first taste of first team regional rugby in two LV= Cup clashes, against the Dragons and Harlequins just weeks later and within months he had captained Wales at Under-18 level and then become one of the youngest ever senior caps after making the starting side for the first summer Test on the 2013 tour to Japan.

The former YGG Ystalyfera pupil played twice for Wales on that tour and was also selected for both Wales under 20 squads at the 2014 Junior World Championships and the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championships.