NEWPORT have been forced to move their Premiership match against Swansea because it clashes with a Newport Gwent Dragons game.

The encounter with the All Whites will now take place on Sunday, January 20 (kick-off 2.30pm), 24 hours later than scheduled because of the region's match with Perpignan in the Heineken Cup.

The Black and Ambers have also offered Neath the Friday before Wales game with Ireland to play the game that was postponed on December 1. They had originally suggested the day before the England game but the Welsh All Blacks have a friendly with Bucharest.

Newport still need to rearrange the game with Cardiff on Friday, March 14 as Wales Under-20s are playing France at Rodney Parade, as well as the game at Llandovery that was postponed in December.

Other Premiership clubs are also looking to solve their fixture worries caused by the awful weather that washed out the weekend schedule on December 8, though Cross Keys and Ebbw Vale are yet to confirm new dates for their games at Cardiff and Swansea respectively.

Both those sides are also preparing to play fixtures without members of coaching staff present. Vale head coach Pat Horgan and Keys director of rugby Robert Beale are involved in the Wales Under-20 set-up and will be absent when their clubs play Friday night fixtures on March 7 and 14.

Meanwhile, Newport have confirmed that lock James Connors has signed for Llanharan on a permanent basis. The giant second row had found himself behind experienced duo Matthew Veater and Mark Workman, as well as Adam Frampton, in the pecking order.

The former Glamorgan Wanderer made his debut for his new side in December and will have a swift return to Rodney Parade when the teams met in round four of the Konica Minolta Cup on January 26.