Richard Bryan was probably the least celebrated of Newport Gwent Dragons' summer signings, but now he has established himself in the team, can't wait for Saturday's Heineken Cup-tie against Newcastle and is even bidding for international honours after qualifying for Wales.

The Bristol-born former Bath, Bridgend and Celtic Warriors back-row forward has started all of the Dragons games this season.

Now comes the biggest so far against Jonny Wilkinson's Newcastle, even more so as injury kept Bryan out of last season's Heineken Cup programme for the Celtic Warriors.

"Jonny Wilkinson is a big match player and it's going to be a great challenge, but Newcastle have got other great players throughout the side," he said.

"It's a tough group and we need to get off to a good start, but I'm looking forward to it and hopefully we will qualify.

"I don't see why we can't nick a couple of away results. Our away form is good enough to suggest we can go away and win in this competition, too."

But Bryan warns against concentrating too much on just one player, in this case Wilkinson.

"You get into dangerous territory when you come up with a plan to watch just Wilkinson, that would be playing into their hands," he said.

"Unless you take the team as a whole you're getting into dangerous waters. And Rob Andrew is a canny operator," he added, referring to his talking up of the Dragons.

"I'm sure he's coming here wanting and expecting to win, we'll do our best to disappoint him."

Bryant is delighted with the way he has settled with the Dragons and believes a full house crowd on Saturday will be a distinct advantage.

"It was feisty when I came here with Bridgend and the Warriors, so it's good coming here and having that support," he said.

"It's an intimidating place to play and with that support behind you it's wonderful. It is comparable here with the Warriors' work ethic, commitment and determination to succeed.

"The people here made the former Warriors players welcome and part of the squad early on. I thought it would have been more difficult with a new coach, but everyone started at the same level and had to adapt. "Chris being a rugby league coach made it difficult, but he had new ideas and things which hadn't been considered before, and so far it's going well."

Bryan qualified for Wales on residence a few months ago and has been part of Mike Ruddock's training squad the past few weeks.

"I've lived here three years now and I'm proud to play here as a professional rugby player," he said.

"When I first came here my career was on a knife edge and I wasn't sure which way it would go. I was thinking of going back to being a solicitor, but I turned my career around and I've developed.

"If I did represent Wales I would be very proud, but my first priority is to carry on being selected for the Dragons."

The immediate concern is Saturday and that Heineken Cup clash with Newcastle.