NEWPORT Gwent Dra-gons number eight Ross Beattie is at the centre of a region v country clash.

Beattie was a member of the Scotland squad during the World Cup last year and he is in the Six Nations squad under new coach Matt Williams.

But that involves Beattie travelling to Scotland for three days training a week which clashes with his commitments for the Dragons.

"Ross is up there on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and I need clarity on the amount of time he will be required in January," said Dragons coach Mike Ruddock.

"I need to have a chat with Matt Williams about this. We've got a long week this week with the Stade Francais game not until Sunday so it has not been critical.

"But he is contracted to the Dragons not to Scotland."

Beattie, who has no trace of a Scottish accent, qualifies for Scotland through his parents. He's a bit of a long distance traveller, living in Bristol with a girlfriend in Newcastle, playing for Scotland and contracted to the Newport Gwent Dragons.

He has been injury free this season after lengthy spells on the sidelines with Newcastle and Bristol, and is showing the benefits because he has been outstanding in every phase for the Dragons.

The 26-year-old is also going to face problems with the new Scotland coach's policy of trying to get all members of his squad playing north of the border.

Beattie does not wish to comment on that situation, but is perfectly happy playing for the Dragons.

Ruddock is taking the Dragons squad for specialised training and defence coaching in particular in the Barn at Wales' Vale of Glamorgan headquarters.

Beattie is part of a selection dilemma for Ruddock for the Stade Francais return. He is considering packing the Dragons line out in order to combat the French champions where they are strongest - locks David Auradou and Arnaud Marchois and No 8 Patrick Tobacco are all 6ft 7in.

If Ian Gough recovers from the rib injury which forced him off the field against Stade last Saturday, Ruddock may play Gough and Peter Sidoli at lock and Michael Owen and Beattie in the back row, all of them tall forwards.

But that would be at the expense of the extra pace of Jamie Ringer, who has been outstanding at blindside flanker.

Ruddock will probably leave a decision until he sees the condition of the Stade de Bouin pitch.