UNCOMPROMISING back rower Harri Keddie is showing form to eclipse the Dragons' Six Nations stars, says boss Dean Ryan.

The 25-year-old starred in the European Challenge Cup defeat to Gloucester at Rodney Parade on Saturday with a typically confrontational display.

Captain Keddie led for metres carried with 85 from 11 efforts, beat six defenders, put in 12 tackles, set up one try and scored another.

The back rower also impressed despite a pair of hammerings in South Africa against the power of the Bulls and Sharks and will be a key figure in the United Rugby Championship run-in.

“He has been incredible for weeks. He was man of the match by some way against Gloucester,” said director of rugby Ryan.

“He has the highest work rate of the side every week but he is starting to be smarter about how he uses that.

South Wales Argus: TRY: Harri Keddie powers over for the DragonsTRY: Harri Keddie powers over for the Dragons

“I don’t think that he chases the game as he did in the past – he tried to look for work rather than being smarter.

“We spoke about letting the game come back to him and we are seeing the dividends with him getting the ball in open space more often.”

Three Dragons back rowers featured in the Six Nations – Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright and the currently injured Ross Moriarty – but Keddie’s form means they would be unlikely to join forces from the off at club level.

“We have never worried about star names. They have to come up and match what he has been doing, and Ollie Griffiths was another one that set the bar high,” said Ryan.

“If he was fit then there might be a situation where not all our current Wales internationals would be in [the matchday 23].”

The Dragons now play six games in the URC run-in with a double-header against the Scarlets over the next fortnight followed by a trip to winless Zebre, derbies against Cardiff (home) and the Ospreys (away) before the Lions head to Newport.

The hope is that wing Ashton Hewitt will make his return to action after 12 months on the sidelines because of ruptured knee ligaments.

The 27-year-old toured South Africa to continue his rehab and an appearance or two would do the speedster from Newport the power of good ahead of next season.

“He’s getting there. We’ve got to get that right because it’s been a long wait and it’s not as easy route back,” said Ryan.

“We have to be patient and see how he progresses but it will be great for us to have him back because we have lost a lot of strike power in Ashton.”