HOT prospect Aneurin Owen is set to join the Dragons’ nine-strong Wales contingent to prepare for the summer Tests.
The 20-year-old from Newport has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Rodney Parade, making 14 appearances and scoring two tries.
The ball-playing centre had been tipped as a contender for international honours in July but was left out of the 34-man squad that will take on Canada and Argentina.
However, Owen is poised to get a first taste of Test camp when he joins selected centres Jonathan Davies, Willis Halaholo, Nick Tompkins and Ben Thomas in Wayne Pivac’s squad.
“We have been informed that Aneurin will be an attached player into Wales over the summer, which we are really pleased about,” said Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan.
“I have yet to clarify exactly what that is, but I think it will be a fantastic experience for him to be around there.
“He is a player who is capable of taking in information and keep getting better. His involvement around the national squad will drive his own standards to a higher level.
“I am still to chat to Wayne about what it means because we want to get him away and get him a break.
“But we are fully supportive of him being exposed to the highest level in this camp coming up and we will work out how to get him away and get him a break off the back of it.”
Pivac issued call-ups to eight current members of the Dragons squad – uncapped lock Ben Carter and flanker Taine Basham plus hooker Elliot Dee, tighthead Leon Brown, back row forwards Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright, scrum-half Rhodri Williams and wing/full-back Jonah Holmes.
Wasps lock Will Rowlands, who is heading to Rodney Parade next season, has also been included.
Ryan added: “I have had a number of conversations with Wayne around Ben and Aneurin in terms of what would be a really beneficial experience for them and what would be a great rest and what would be a way of going into next season getting better.
“It’s a case of working out what’s the best experience Aneurin can get. He has been listed as an attached player and I would expect him to be going in with Wales.
“What that attachment actually is and for how long, I’ve still got to get to the bottom of.”
The Dragons' Wales hopefuls must get through Friday's Rainbow Cup finale at Leinster unscathed.
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