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Former Wales lock Ian Gough is convinced Newport Gwent Dragons can be one of the top Welsh regional teams next season.

Gough, 37, has rejoined the Dragons on a one-year deal from London Irish for the 2014-15 season.

The former Ospreys player has been impressed by the progress made by Lyn Jones' side this season

"I strongly believe that we'll be in the top two Welsh regions next season and then push on from there," he said.

Gough, who won 64 caps for Wales, ended a six-year association with the Ospreys last September before joining London Irish.

He played for Pontypridd and Newport before the advent of regional rugby and made 92 appearances in a previous spell with the Dragons.

The lock was keen to return to Gwent and also to work with Dragons director of rugby Lyn Jones and assistant coach Kingsley Jones.

"We had talks last year and it didn't quite come about, so that's why the move came about to go across to London Irish," Gough added.

"It got resurrected a month or so ago and I'm just very grateful that I got the chance to come back.

"I signed with Lyn at the Ospreys and I'm very excited to work with him.

"I've got big expectations of what he's doing and they've got their foot in there now, him and Kingsley.

"With signings they're bringing in themselves for the team and how they want to play, I think it's onwards and upwards for them.

"It's been a sleeping giant for years and it's starting to awake now, which is brilliant."