NEWPORT Gwent Dragons tighthead prop Leon Brown is determined to help Wales Under-20s "show the world what we can do" – and hopes he won't just be making a big impact off the bench over the coming weeks in Manchester.

The 19-year-old from Maesglas enjoyed a superb season with Cross Keys in the Principality Premiership but had to be content with a quintet of cameos in Wales Under-20s' Grand Slam.

Not that he was a bit-part player – he added plenty of oomph and set up the crucial match-winning try in the tight victory against France – but head coach Jason Strange opted for the (relatively) more experienced Dillon Lewis at 3.

Brown, however, is likely to have a more prominent role at the World Rugby U20 Championship with Wales playing five fixtures in the space of 18 days. The trio of Brown, Lewis and Keiron Assirati will share the burden.

"It's a busy tournament and I think we will all have to play our part," said Brown, who went to school at St Davids and St Joseph's in Newport.

"During the Six Nations I got a few opportunities and I'd like to think that I took them but it's a clean slate going into the World Cup.

"There's the Front Row Union, so we are all close, but at the same time all three of us are after that shirt. We are friends but are also rivals and will push each other in the right direction.

"We've had a tough six-week camp so far and everyone has worked hard in the squad. We are a tightknit group and everyone is looking forward to getting going now.

"All the hard work has been done so now's the time to show the world what we can do."

Brown's participation in last year's tournament in Italy was ended by injury – "hopefully I can stay out there for the whole stint this time and make a decent impact" – but he heads to the north west of England with more experience under his belt.

He made 12 appearances for Keys (and won the October Premiership player of the month award), played in the British and Irish Cup encounters for the Dragons Premiership Select XV and has benefited from working alongside seasoned pros in training.

"It's been a tough season with different standards of play and as a young tighthead that will only help me in my career," he said.

"It was good to go up against teams like Doncaster Knights, who made the English Championship final, and I'd like to think that I haven't done too badly."

"It's been good to do a few sessions with the Dragons," he continued. "Scrummaging and training with older and more experienced players will help me develop. Boris (Stankovich, the now retired loosehead) was brilliant and was always there giving me a helping hand."

Wales start their tournament on Tuesday against Ireland before pool encounters with Georgia and favourites New Zealand.