NEWPORT Gwent Dragons boss Kingsley Jones has urged Wales to take the chance to watch Ashton Hewitt at close quarters by naming the wing in the squad for the Six Nations, writes Chris Kirwan.

Head coach Rob Howley announces his squad for the tournament, which starts on the first weekend of February, at midday tomorrow.

Livewire runners Hewitt and the Ospreys' Keelan Giles are pressing to be included alongside the likely starting back three for the round one clash in Rome of Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams and George North.

Hewitt has missed the last two games with a minor knee problem but is set to be back in the mix for selection for the Dragons' crunch European Rugby Challenge Cup clash at Brive on Saturday.

Jones hopes that the 22-year-old from Newport will head to France with a spring in his step after getting the nod from Howley, believing just being involved at the Vale of Glamorgan headquarters can help push him to the next level.

"I would have liked to have been able to play Ashton against Enisei-STM and it was close, I thought he might have been able to send a message out by getting a couple of tries," said the Dragons head coach.

"But let's hope it (the selection) is not just on that and it's on other recent performances. I believe he has a chance and that the Wales environment would do so much for him.

"He offers something that not too many players can offer and I'd like them to have a look at him, get him into the environment and see how hard he works and how much growth is in him."

Dragons lock Cory Hill and centre Tyler Morgan will hope to be included in the squad while wing Hallam Amos could feature in the later part of the tournament once he returns from the shoulder injury he suffered in the November defeat to Australia.