There was a house at Ebbw Vale’s Eugene Cross Park that affectionately became known as The Tongan Embassy.

The Pacific Islands influence remains strong in Gwent, to the extent that three Tongans will feature in Dragons’ United Rugby Championship (URC) derby against Scarlets in Newport on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Centres Fine Inisi and Fetuli Paea are entering their second seasons with the Rodney Parade club and have been joined by wing Anzelo Tuitavuki.

The summer signing made an impressive debut in the round one draw at Benetton.

Tuitavuki made nine carries for 48 metres, sparked the move for Tinus de Beer’s try with a powerful charge and then set up Inisi’s score with an offload while he attracted the attention of three defenders.

“I feel like I will bring physicality to add value in attack and defence,” he said.

“There are a lot of rapid boys here and I hope to give a good balance, with some crash balls.”

Wales and Lions number eight Taulupe Faletau, arguably the greatest Dragon, is the son of former Tonga forward Kuli, who joined Ebbw Vale in 1997 along with Josh Taumalolo.

The arrivals of the likes of Fe’ao Vunipola, Kati and Sione Tuipulotu, Salesi Finau, Maama Molitika and Uiniati Moa developed a community that has strong roots in the area.

It means that Inisi, Paea and now Tuitavuki have an extra support network.

The wing arrived in Wales with wife Lupe after two years with Colomiers in France – “a good lifestyle, and good wine as well” – and has been welcomed into the congregation at Pontnewynydd Methodist Church.

Tuitavuki said: “It 100% helps. I can go to church on Sunday and it kind of feels like home being around the Tongan community.

“The move all happened pretty quickly. I got in touch with the boys (Paea and Inisi) and was excited and keen to come, and they were excited to have me coming as well.”

The Tongan community ensures that Wales tight-head prop Sisilia Tuipulotu gets loud backing from the stands on international days, including from the Dragons players.

Her cousin Carwyn trained with the Rodney Parade club in pre-season and featured against Hartpury to help his hunt for a new club after leaving Pau.

The tight Tongan bond was a factor in Inisi having an impressive first season in Newport after joining from Moana Pasifika.

His success at outside centre contributed to a frustrating campaign for compatriot Paea, who broke his right forearm in a formidable debut against Sharks after signing from Zebre.

Inisi and Tuitavuki make their second starts of the current campaign against Scarlets while Paea hopes for his second outing off the bench.

The trio have extra motivation for strong seasons – they hope to make the Tonga squad for next year’s World Cup in Australia, where they will face Wales, England and Zimbabwe in the group stages.

Dragons currently have eight overseas players on the books for the coming season.

Inisi, Paea and Tuitavuki are joined by Samoa scrum-half Ereatara Enari, South Africans Rob Hunt and Tinus de Beer, Argentine Rodrigo Martinez and New Zealander Terrell Peita, who is yet to link up with his new team-mates.

All of them are leading contenders for the starting line-up – and Peita and the injured Enari are the only ones not involved this weekend – but have been signed to boost homegrown talent, not block it.

Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia did just that when playing at the Ospreys, one of the overseas players that had a huge role in developing a positive environment for the likes of Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar, James Hook and Rhys Webb.

“When recruiting it is critical that players are going to add something that we don’t have,” said Tiatia, a twice-capped former All Black whose brother, Ace, played for Samoa.

“They are all good men with leadership and willingness to share knowledge to grow some of our young players.

“They are men of faith, similar to me, and I understand them pretty well. I trust that they will add to our game and challenge.”

As with a Welsh signing, there are no guarantees in recruitment.

Dragons signed Tongan number eight Solomone Funaki in 2024 with the hope of him being a destructive presence, but knee problems meant he left without playing a competitive game.

Hamstring surgery has denied Tiatia the chance to press Super Rugby winner Enari into immediate action but the early signs are promising with Tuitavuki.

“Anzelo has been fantastic,” said Tiatia, who coached the wing and Inisi during a spell at Moana Pasifika.

“He is a great communicator and defensively is world-class around scanning opportunities, pictures, threats. He has been really good for our young group.”

Dragons have twice had a strong South African influence.

They inherited Andy Marinos and Percy Montgomery from Newport RFC in 2003 and they were joined by Bobby Skinstad and Shawn van Rensburg.

The Dragons side defeated by Montpellier in the 2016 Challenge Cup semi-finals featured Brok Harris, Rynard Landman, Sarel Pretorius and Carl Meyer.

In 2008-9 there was a Kiwi twang in Newport thanks to the presence of Tom Willis, Nigel Hall, Grant Webb, Hoani MacDonald, plus Japan fly-half James Arlidge from Hamilton.

Now it is the turn of the Tongan trio to try and become overseas cult heroes.