LUKE Charteris is the latest doubt for Wales for next week's eagerly awaited Six Nations Championship opener against England at the Millennium Stadium.

And it highlights a team selection crisis for Newport Gwent Dragons ahead of Sunday's Celtic League game against Leinster in Dublin.

Charteris suffered a recurrence of his rib injury after he went on as a 64th minute replacement for the Dragons against Glasgow last Saturday.

He has been unable to train with the Wales squad this week and is a major concern ahead of the England clash a week Saturday.

An anxious Wales coach Mike Ruddock, already grappling with the dual blow of losing flankers Colin Charvis and Martyn Williams at the same time, said at yesterday's Six Nations launch in London, "Luke can't train at the moment, so it doesn't look too good for next week."

The 21-year-old 6ft 10ins, 18st 7lbs lock is right in line for a place against England, despite his inexperience, where his height could cause major problems in the line-out.

Now it could well be a battle between veteran Gareth Llewellyn and back-to-form Robert Sidoli for the middle jumper's role against England.

Llewellyn showed little sign of any diminishing power against the All Blacks last time out while Sidoli is gradually making his presence felt again after a long standing groin injury.

Charteris' fellow lock Ian Gough is also struggling with injury, suffering a back strain playing for the Dragons last Saturday and restricted in the amount of training he has been able to do this week on his recall to the Wales squad.

The Dragons, fourth in the Celtic League table, are now likely to be without all eight of their Welsh squad players for their visit to third placed Leinster, though they will miss all their Irish squad men as well.

Half backs Ceri Sweeney and Gareth Cooper, centre/wing Hal Luscombe, full back/wing Kevin Morgan and forwards Steve Jones and Michael Owen are all likely to be required by Ruddock while Charteris and Gough are both struggling.

Only Gough of those players might have been released for the Leinster game, especially as the game falls within the seven-day rule for international rugby, but injury could rule him out anyway.

That leaves Peter Sidoli, brother of Robert, as the only fit lock in the Dragons squad so they could well call on Newport's Neil Edwards, among others, though that will, in turn, impact on Newport's Premier Division game against Llanelli at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Apart from the Dragons' four Wales squad backs being unavailable, they are still without Nathan Brew who has damaged ankle ligaments, so resources there will be fully stretched as well.

l The Welsh Rugby Union are planning a pre-match operatic extravaganza for the England game. Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins will top the bill, while Aled Jones will also perform and Russell Watson will represent England.