DRAGONS boss Dean Ryan believes a Six Nations call-up will be an invaluable experience for back rower Taine Basham – but that leaving for Wales duty has hit the bright prospect's momentum.

The 20-year-old from Talywain was added to Wayne Pivac's squad for the tournament last week because of Josh Navidi's hamstring injury.

It is the second time that the Wales management have turned to the uncapped promising back rower after he was called up for the November fixture against the Barbarians.

Basham didn't make the matchday 23 for Principality Stadium but impressed the new coaching set-up and continued to shine for the Dragons in the festive derbies.

The dynamic back rower, who has scored eight tries in 15 appearances this season, will now push the senior forwards for the rest of the Six Nations and is likely to be released for game time in the Dragons' Guinness PRO14 games against Benetton, Glasgow and the Cheetahs over the next three weekends.

Basham trained with the Dragons last Friday when Wales were in Dublin and Ryan believes doubling up will test the youngster, who has played just 29 senior fixtures.

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"The call-up is credit to Taine but it's also a new challenge because he is still learning the game," said the director of rugby, who won four England caps.

"It's a difficult space to be in because it makes training really disjointed – he is with us on Monday and Friday, with Wales on Tuesday and Thursday.

"Taine had real momentum and that has stuttered a bit because he has jumped from camp to camp.

"It will be interesting to see how he deals with that and it's a process that he needs to mature through.

"I've no doubt about his potential – everyone can see that – but now it's just another challenge that he has to work through.

"Taine needs to come out of the Six Nations with real momentum into the tail-end of the season.

"At the moment he is that body on the other side of the ball in the Welsh camp, that will be a great experience for him but I know he want to change that and work out how he can get into the side, and the summer tour will be a great opportunity if he can get in the mix."

Basham is firmly down the Wales pecking order with Aaron Shingler next in line behind the quartet from the opening rounds of Dragons Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty, Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric.

That won't stop the combative youngster from putting himself around in training and Ryan says it is form in the PRO14 run-in that can help give Pivac a nudge.

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"Being young you believe that it should be you in the side all the time! We've talked about going into Wales camp and enjoying it, learning from it and then turning into a contender," said the director of rugby.

"You only do that by playing, you don't do it on training fields. He needs to come back, play well and get momentum at the end of the season.

"It's a great opportunity for Taine and it's not just about working with (breakdown coach) Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric has great experience as well.

"Being around them and understanding what it's like to prepare for a Test match and the emotional pressure around a team in the Six Nations is an enormous experience.

"For Taine to get a front row seat in that is a great opportunity to learn."

Basham is learning on the training field but his teammate Leon Brown is growing on the pitch.

The tighthead came off the bench in the win against Italy and defeat in Ireland and is pushing Dillon Lewis for the 3 jersey.

Brown has made strides in the scrum this season and Ryan was impressed by the 23-year-old from Newport's impact in Dublin.

"The two scrums when he came on, Wales were under huge pressure. Leon's ability to stabilise the scrum in the last 20 minutes was the difference between maintaining a competitive challenge or the game running away from them," he said.

"I am sure they have a conversation on selection about whether he warrants the front end of a game or the tail end.

"The first thing for Leon was to establish confidence in him. Full credit for him for doing that."