ASHTON Hewitt has been released from Wales' Six Nations squad to prove his fitness with Newport Gwent Dragons, writes Chris Kirwan.

The winger has been unable to take a full part in training after a first international call-up because he reported for duty at the Vale of Glamorgan headquarters with signs of concussion.

The 22-year-old from Newport has been cut from Rob Howley's squad and will return to the Dragons next week with the aim of playing in their Guinness PRO12 clash against champions Connacht in Galway a week on Saturday.

A Welsh Rugby Union statement read: "Ashton Hewitt has been released from the Wales squad back to Newport Gwent Dragons.

"Hewitt will undertake his return to play (protocol) following his ongoing recovery from concussion with the hope of returning to action in the near future with his region."

If the speedster is passed fit and comes through unscathed at the Sportsground then he could be called back up by Wales to help with the preparations for the round three fixture against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Hewitt impressed with some livewire performances on the Dragons wing in the first half of the campaign but has not played since the New Year's Day defeat to the Ospreys at Rodney Parade.

Dragons forwards coach Ceri Jones believes even being involved with the Wales squad and seeing the work put in by Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams and George North at close quarters would serve the speedster well.

"The whole experience of a different training environment, it's going to be quite intense down there during the Six Nations period," said the former Wales prop.

"You can learn a lot from the professionalism of the players around you, seeing what they are doing and what is needed to break into that squad."