  We analyze Regge quantum gravity coupled to SU(2) gauge theory on $4^3\times
2$, $6^{3}\times 4$ and $8^{3}\times 4$ simplicial lattices. It turns out that
the window of the well-defined phase of the gravity sector where geometrical
expectation values are stable extends to negative gravitational couplings as
well as to gauge couplings across the deconfinement phase transition. We study
the string tension from Polyakov loops, compare with the $\beta$-function of
pure gauge theory and conclude that a physical limit through scaling is
possible.
