THE chances of Joe Bearman being fit for Newport Gwent Dragons' Heineken Cup-tie against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday have improved considerably.

The back row forward has been one of the Dragons' most consistent players for the past month or so, being voted man-of-the-match twice and also scoring a try against Glasgow last Friday, though he did receive a red card against Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day.

He suffered leg and hand injuries against the Scottish team and was originally a doubt for the London Irish game, but he now looks like making it in what could be an unchanged back row alongside Colin Charvis and Michael Owen.

Also available for consideration again is scrum half Wayne Evans, who was handed a two-match ban after the Blues match when he was cited for his part in the end-of-game brawl which resulted in Bearman seeing red.

Evans has been developing well since joining from the Blues, but rival Andy Williams was in fine form against Glasgow when his box kicking was one of the reasons the Dragons won.

Because of the injury situation, with as many as 12 players likely to be ruled out, the Dragons were unable to name a squad this morning, though there are expected to be few changes from the 22 on duty at Firhill.

They have won their last two games to make it a bright start to the new year, but Saturday will be a totally different proposition against a London Irish team fresh from beating former Premiership champions Sale last Sunday.

The Irish also put 45 points on the Dragons when they met them at Rodney Parade in mid-November, completely overwhelming them and running them ragged in a one-sided romp.

On top of that the Irish are celebrating the selection of six players in the England and England Saxons squad, announced yesterday - Peter Richards in the full squad and Delon Armitage, Shane Geraghty, Paul Hodgson, Nick Kennedy and David Paice in the Saxons squad.

"We are very pleased after our win against Sale and having six players in the two England squads, but we are still expecting a tough game against the Dragons," said a London Irish spokesman.

Meanwhile, Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock has denied Michael Owen is joining them at the end of the season. "There are no plans to recruit Mike," he said.

Owen was linked with Worcester while outside half Ceri Sweeney has been linked with a move to Cardiff Blues.

Last night's WRU Reebok Regional Under-16 Championship game between the Dragons and Blues South at Caerphilly were cancelled due to waterlogged pitches.