Dragon Bearman out until December

Joe Bearman has completed a three-year residency in Wales

Dragons back-rower Joe Bearman hopes to return from his groin injury for the Christmas programme of games.

The 30-year-old was hotly tipped for a call-up to Wales' squad for the four-Test autumn series before the problem.

Dragons coach Paul Turner also hopes to have Ali McKenzie back for Christmas, but fellow props Phil Price, Ben Castle and Nigel Hall are out until 2010.

Bearman has been a popular figure in Newport since his 2005 move from Cornish Pirates.

He has now completed a three-year residential qualification and has said that a potential Wales call would be "the best day of my life".

606: DEBATE Should Bearman be a Wales contender?

BBC Sport understands that the Wales camp contacted the Dragons earlier this season to ensure that Bearman's paperwork was in order.

"I thought it was the tax man," joked 6ft 4ins, 17-stone Bearman.

"But I've loved living here, my girlfriend's family is half Welsh.

"If I was ever asked to play for Wales it would be a great, great honour that I would grab with both hands."

The Londoner, who moved to Cornwall before his switch to Newport, specialises at number eight or blind-side, where he would be competing with Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Andy Powell, Gareth Delve, Dan Lydiate and Dafydd Jones for a Wales spot.