WALES prop Leon Brown has turned down the option of an extended break following his World Cup disappointment as is in contention for a return to action against the Scarlets on Saturday.

The 22-year-old from Maesglas spent the summer with Warren Gatland's squad at the gruelling training camps in Switzerland and Turkey before winning his sixth cap against Ireland.

However, Brown failed to make the cut for Japan after the management opted to take two tightheads, Tomas Francis and Dillon Lewis, with the Dragons front-rower and Samson Lee missing out.

The prop was offered extra time off but opted to return to training in Ystrad Mynach on Monday.

Brown could now feature in Saturday's Rodney Parade double-header with the Scarlets, when the youngsters play in the Celtic Cup at 1pm before Dean Ryan's seniors take on their rivals from the west at 4pm.

South Wales Argus:

"He could potentially play this weekend after coming back into full training after a few days off," said forwards coach Ceri Jones.

"To not be included in the World Cup squad after doing all that training is a hard thing mentally but he has come back in, is looking good and it has given everyone else a boost to see him out there running about.

"The summer, all that preparation and work, should do him the world of good – the Wales players are in incredible nick.

"It's just nice to see Leon back with the squad because he is an important figure for us, a man of the county who has come through the system.

"He has had that disappointment of the World Cup and it's down to him to get back out there and show what a quality player he is.

"It's a great opportunity for him to go out there and play a lot of rugby this season, because as a young prop he just need games."

South Wales Argus:

Loosehead Ryan Bevington, who helped Wales to the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup, feels for his fellow front rower Brown but has stressed that time is on the tighthead's side.

"It would have been great for Leon and you've got to feel sorry for any player that doesn't go because you want to be on that plane," said the 30-year-old, who won the last of his 13 caps against Italy in 2014.

"Leon is a great guy and has everything to his game – he is big, athletic and the more rugby he gets this season the better he will get.

"I spoke to him about it and he was down, as anyone would be, but at the same time he can get back here and get game time.

"Leon is bigger than he has ever been, faster than he has ever been, so hopefully we will get a good season out of him and that will push Lloyd Fairbrother to become a better player."

The Dragons name their Celtic Cup team tomorrow and the senior side on Friday.

A number of first-teamers featured in the 40-31 loss to Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park in the development competition last weekend.

Lock Brandon Nansen, who missed out on Samoa's World Cup squad, and scrum-half Luke Baldwin, who is on loan from Worcester, are set to feature in the second game of the double-header as they are ineligible for the Celtic Cup as the regions are limited to using Welsh-qualified players.