THE notion of powerful Newport Gwent Dragons prospect Leon Brown being like a sponge may raise eyebrows from opponents who have been in his path in the Principality Premiership but the burgeoning prop intends to keep absorbing information from Wales icons this month.

The 20-year-old from Maesglas is enjoying an autumn to remember after being invited to train with the Test squad along with regional teammate and back row forward Harri Keddie.

The Dragons pair, both Grand Slam winners with Wales Under-20s last year, have been rubbing shoulders with the likes of Gethin Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton at the Vale of Glamorgan headquarters for the dates against Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa.

The national coaches are thinking long-term – forwards coach Robin McBryde said they are not "next cab on the rank" but wants them to be inspired – and Brown has been firing off questions to Wales' finest in a bid to earn a proper call-up in years to come.

"It's been a class experience to train at the Vale and pick up things off the Wales squad, it's only going to make me a better player in the future," he said.

"You've got to ask as many questions as you can and try and pick habits up off good role models, try to imitate what they do and learn from the experience.

"Looking around and seeing the likes of George North and Leigh Halfpenny, I'm not used to that! It's been class.

"Training intensity has gone up ten-fold to what I'm used to and I've got to take that away and train at that level everywhere I go.

"Me and Harri are both pinching ourselves and hopefully it's the just the start and if we keep working hard things will come."

Brown headed back to Wales camp for the Japan preparations after a weekend of firsts, one good and one bad.

He made his Dragons debut in the 42-3 Anglo-Welsh Cup defeat to Leicester but, despite a solid showing, received his first yellow card in the closing stages.

It was a formidable task for the youngster at Welford Road with the Dragons management calling him from the bench before half-time when former Wales tighthead Craig Mitchell was struggling in the tight.

He headed onto the pitch to lock horns with Argentina legend Marcos Ayerza and when the former Puma came off at half-time his replacement was Ellis Genge, fresh from being released from England's autumn squad for game time.

Brown said: "There were a few tough scrums but I'm always going to get that as a young tighthead. That's my first yellow card (at regional level) but it happens and hopefully I'll learn from it.

"I can take loads from it and I've gone up against Marcos Ayerza and Ellis Genge, two internationals. I've never scrummaged against props of that calibre so it's a massive learning curve.

"You are in a scrum and think 'I've never been in this position before', so have to learn on the job. Next time I am in that situation I know I can handle it and adjust accordingly."

"It was a proud moment to make my debut," he continued. "It didn't go the way that I wanted but it was definitely a great experience."

Brown has already made a big impact with Cross Keys in the Premiership with his impressive ball carrying and work in the loose but he knows that it's the set piece where a player is judged when they have 3 on their back.

"Ceri Jones (forwards coach) has been a great help and Sam Hobbs (loosehead) has taken me under his wing, after every scrum he will give me some advice, tell me what I've been doing and how I can do it better," he said.

"As a tighthead your bread and butter is scrummaging, so that's the main thing that I've had to crack on with and build my trade. Carrying and tackling comes as a bonus."

Brown will spend this week with Wales again before hoping to make his Rodney Parade debut against the Scarlets in the Anglo-Welsh Cup on Friday (kick-off 7.30pm).