MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: 27 December Kick-off: 1800 GMT
Coverage: Live on S4C, plus commentary on BBC Radio Wales & Radio Cymru and the BBC Sport website

Gareth Williams played in Wales under-20s Six Nations campaign in 2008

Paul Turner has signed former Wales under-20 scrum-half Gareth Williams from Harlequins to alleviate the Dragons' scrum-half injury crisis.

Coach Turner has returned to his former club to capture the 21-year-old from Neath on loan as the region's three senior scrum-halves are injured.

Wayne Evans could be out for up to six weeks with a knee problem while Danny Lee and Alex Walker are major doubts.

Williams will be a replacement in Sunday's derby at the Cardiff Blues.

James Leadbeater, another 21-year-old scrum-half, is set to start for the Dragons at the Cardiff City Stadium for the all-Wales Magners league clash.

"He came through the age systems in Wales and played in the Wales under-20 side in the Six Nations and the World Cup," said Turner.

"Our two scrum-halves went down with injuries in the first game against Biarritz in Europe and we wanted a Welsh qualified player as a back-up.

606: DEBATE Is loan signing Williams is a promising scrum-half?

"He is a good player and has shown in his two days here that he has something to offer."

Danny Lee has been playing through a shoulder problem but Dragons academy product Leadbeater is set to start against the Blues.

Evans, meanwhile, is expected to miss the Dragons' final two Heineken Cup pool games with Glasgow Warriors and Gloucester in mid to late January.

And Turner admits: "It will disrupt us with the European games coming up but we have to get on with it."

The Dragons will also be without Welsh international forward pair Dan Lydiate and Luke Charteris against Cardiff Blues but lock Charteris could be available for their New Year's Eve home match with the Llanelli Scarlets.

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