History of Newport RFC :: 1874

"For the rest of September and throughout October, Newport rugby team will be engaged in a succession of Heineken League matches. November, however, will bring relief from these struggles to collect league points, for during this month five of Newports six matches will be non-league affairs and two of them at least promise to provide excellent entertainment."

"The first of these two fixtures will be against the Barbarians on Tuesday evening, November 2nd, and four days later Newport will entertain London Scottish, who will be making their first appearance at Rodney Parade. The Scottish exiles won promotion to the top division of Englands Courage Club Championship last season, and they take the place of Nottingham, who will be engaged in a cup-tie on the date they would normally have visited Newport."

"London Scottish have some excellent players in their squad, including two who played for Scotland in the 1992 five-nations championship, namely prop forward Andrew Burnett and back row forward Derek White. The former also played for the Barbarians in their centenary match against England."

"Newports old friends, Cross Keys and Penarth, will also be played before Cardiff are opposed in a league match at Rodney Parade on November 28th. Newport defeated Cross Keys 38-13 at home last season, but this season they travel to Pandy Park for a midweek evening fixture."

"Since their opening match against Maesteg, Newport players have distinguished themselves by reaching the final of the prestigious London Harlequins - Lord Taverners seven-a-side tournament, which, incidentally, they won last season. On their way to the final they defeated Northampton, Harlequins and Richmond. Newport, however, were forced to hand over the Wavell Wakefield Trophy to an England select team, who included Tony Underwood, who is likely to succeed his much capped brother, Rory, in the England five-nations championship team ? unless Rory changes his mind about retirement from international rugby!"

"For the second day in succession, Newport utility back Simon McCracken emphasised his scoring ability. He notched up two tries against Maesteg and in the Harlequins sevens final he scored another brace of tries. A week later he scored two more tries against South Wales Police. Last season McCracken finished fifth in the Newport scoring chart with 34 points, including five tries. He has already improved on that total this season."

"Newport supporters will have noticed the improvements which have been made in some parts of the ground, particularly in and under the grandstand. Mr. Bob Adams, Newports vice-chairman and chairman of the grounds and amenities committee, explained that the improvements and extra safety precautions cost ?160,000, but he added that further improvements are planned."

"WELCOME AGAIN, LLANELLI. . ."

"Llanelli, todays visitors to Rodney Parade, can expect another warm welcome, for their achievements, particularly during the past two years, have been truly remarkable and consistent. Twice they have carried off the Schweppes Cup and twice they have finished runners-up in the Heineken Leagues top division, first to Neath and then to Swansea."

"Individual honours, too, have been showered on the majority of their squad members at all levels ? full Welsh caps, Welsh B caps, under-21 caps and selection for the British Lions and the Barbarians. Their senior internationals are British Lion leuan Evans, who captained Wales throughout last season, Colin Stephens, Nigel Davies, Phil Davies, Laurence Delaney, Emyr Lewis and Londoner Tony Copsey."

"Rupert Moon has succeeded Phil Davies as Llanellis captain. He was a Welsh replacement throughout last seasons five-nations championship programme, yet he is a pure-blooded Englishman from the Midlands and is an England B international. In fact, before he decided to take his chance of winning a Welsh senior cap he was in line to captain the England B team during their summer tour of Australia, an appointment which went to Baths Stuart Barnes, a former Newport outside half."

"There seems little doubt that Llanelli will again be well represented in all the Welsh teams in this seasons senior and junior international matches, and some of their players are bound to be on the short list for the British Lions tour of New Zealand during the summer."

"The roll of Llanelli players who distinguished themselves in international rugby throughout the years is certainly an extensive one, and among the modern ones who readily spring to mind are Phil Bennett, Ray Gravell, Delme Thomas, Rhys Williams, J.J. Williams, Barry John and Derek Quinnell, whose twenty-year-old son, Scott Quinnell, is making an impact in the Scarlets team."

"Young Quinnell is regarded as one of the most promising back row forwards in Wales. He played in Llanellis successful Cup team back in May, and has gained international honours at youth, under-19 years and under-20 years levels. He should add to these this season!"

"Among the newcomers to the Stradey Park squad is prop forward David Joseph, who was a Welsh replacement for the five-nations championship matches last season. He was, however, not in Swanseas cup final team who were beaten by Llanelli."

"Newport and Llanelli, of course, have always had the greatest respect for each others ability and determination, and the West Walians will be eager to turn the tables on Newport, who defeated them 19-9 at Rodney Parade last November!"