JAMES Parkes has been drafted in to ease Worcester Rugby Club's injury worries.

The 22-year-old will play in the Warriors' United match with Northampton at Sixways on Monday and could then be included in the first team squad to face Bedford next week.

The Saracens hooker, who has played for England Under 21s, has been signed on a month's loan to cover for Chris Pearson. Pearson is back in plaster following a broken wrist.

"We are worried about the situation with Chris," said Worcester's director of rugby John Brain. "He will come out of plaster the Monday before the Orrell game on February 16 and hopefully be OK, but we felt we needed to bolster the squad."

Meanwhile, National One title rivals Worcester and Rotherham are both optimistic that their league games will go ahead tomorrow despite the cold spell.

Officials at Millmoor said they had had no snow and the pitch was covered, while Brain believed the frost would not jeopardise Worcester's home match with Manchester.