Cardiff's Botham back as Dragons recall Wainwright

Cardiff flanker James Botham scored against Dragons in October 2022

Venue: Arms Park, Cardiff Date: Tuesday, 26 December Kick off: 15:00 GMT
Coverage: Scrum V Live - BBC Two Wales, iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app. Match report on the BBC Sport website and app.

Wales flanker James Botham makes his first Cardiff appearance of 2023-24 in the United Rugby Championship (URC) derby against Dragons on Tuesday.

Wales duo Rio Dyer and Aaron Wainwright return among seven Dragons changes from their narrow defeat at Pau.

Cai Evans is named at fly-half.

Scrum-half Rhodri Williams, props Rhodri Jones and Lloyd Fairbrother, hooker Bradley Roberts and lock George Nott also return.

Wales forward duo Leon Brown and Dan Lydiate are back from injury to be named among Dragons' replacements.

'Players will move on' with Tomos Williams close to Gloucester dealDragons fighting to keep Wainwright and Dyer

Gonzalo Bertranou, Ben Carter, Elliot Dee, Jack Dixon, Ollie Griffiths, Angus O'Brien, Sio Tomkinson Josh Reynolds, David Richards, Matthew Screech and Joe Westwood are unavailable.

Dragons have lost their last 17 league matches against Cardiff, including a 16-9 defeat at Rodney Parade in October 2023.

Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Mason Grady; Tinus de Beer, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Rory Thornton, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, James Botham, Mackenzie Martin.

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Corey Domachowski, Rhys Litterick, Seb Davies, Lucas de la Rua, Ellis Bevan, Willis Halaholo, Gabriel Hamer-Webb.

Dragons: Jordan Williams; Rio Dyer, Steff Hughes (capt), Aneurin Owen, Ashton Hewitt; Cai Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Bradley Roberts, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, George Nott, Harrison Keddie, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Aki Seiuli, Leon Brown, Sean Lonsdale, Dan Lydiate, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Jared Rosser.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Assistant referees: Mike English & Gwyn Morris (WRU)

TMO: Wayne Davies (WRU).