NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have suffered another injury blow with the loss of their captain Colin Charvis for Saturday's Heineken Cup tie against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.

Charvis has been unable to train all week after suffering a calf injury against Glasgow last Friday. Also missing are hooker Steve Jones and scrum half Andy Williams, shoulder and knee injuries respectrively, taking the number of players who could not be considered for the match to a staggering 15.

Flanker James Harris is handed his first start of the season while Aled Thomas, normally an outside half, switches to full back. Wayne Evans comes in at scrum half.

Dragons: A Thomas, R Mustoe, P Emerick, A Smith, R Fussell, C Sweeney, W Evans, A Black, B Daly, G Robinson, A Hall, P Sidoli, J Bearman, M Owen (captain), J Harris. Replacements: K Crawford, H Gustafson, A Jones, L Evans, A Walker, P Dollman, G Wyatt.