From the match programme:-
"CHAIRMANS ADDRESS"
"CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME NEWPORT RFC"
"Wrth nesai at ddiweddglo'r tymor hoffwn estyn croeso cynnes iawn i Glwb Rygbi Casnewydd yma i Banc yr Eglwys heddiw. A very warm welcome is extended to everyone associated with Newport RFC for today's Principality Premiership as the season draws to a close."
"Hopefully we will continue with our league fixtures with one of Wales's most famous clubs again next season - but who knows? - given the WRU's sudden and most dramatic shake up of the Premiership since the introduction of regional rugby in 2003. At last week's Millenium Stadium WRU presentation by Joe Lydon clubs were given an overview of the new proposals and then on Monday of this week the Premiership group of clubs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the reduction in the number of teams from fourteen down to ten. The ten successful clubs will be chosen following their assessment in meeting new licensing criteria which is understood to include ground and spectator facilities, the submission of'match funding business plans and a meritocracy formula in relation to each clubs league position over the last six seasons. Popular belief would suggest that teams like Cardiff, Newport, Llanelli, Swansea, Neath, Pontypridd and Aberavon are racing certainties with the remaining three clubs being selected from the other seven teams - along with possibly Bridgend, Newbridge or Ebbw Vale pending the outcome of the relegation and promotion playoffs. Whilst we as a Club are safe in the knowledge that our facilities match up to the current WRU standards - as we are one of the ten clubs who hold an 'A' license (Bedwas, Carmarthen Quins, Pontypool and Glamorgan Wanderers being the four 'B' license holders) - which are necessary in order to be eligible for entry into the British & Irish Cup, nevertheless there is undoubtedly an element of uncertainty whether this will necessarily guarantee our place in the new ten team tier."
"At the time of writing we are due to have talks with Scarlets supremo Gareth Jenkins this evening about the potential implications upon Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins, as it is considered unlikely that both of us will be in the new mix, given the fact that there is to be a minimum of two clubs and a maximum of four clubs per region."
"On a personal view i believe that the fair and equitable split would be to provide three teams per region in a twelve team format, however the WRU insist that they do not have the additional £200k to enable this. It is particularly difficult to swallow when the regions themselves splash out sums in excess of this figure on a single non-Welsh qualified player. It is therefore questionable whether the WRU budget is being spent wisely, particularly given the results in the Heineken Cup to date, whether the huge sums spent on such players i.e. those who cannot represent Wales can be justified at the expense of funding two additional Clubs who contribute so much more to Welsh Rugby at all levels."
"For the £77k that we are receive annually in funding by the WRU, in return we field a Premiership team who has been represented in the Premiership since its inception (indeed it is worth noting that since the introduction of the Heineken Leagues in 1990 we have been promoted through and up into the top tier and have never been relegated): we have won the Konica Minolta Cup in 2007 (one of only nine clubs to do so in history); we represented Wales in this season's British & Irish Cup competition and came within a whisker of qualifying as pool runners up when losing 20 -19 at Ayr: we reached the semi final of the Swalec Cup: we supply an Athletic team which has won the league and cup three years in succession, a Youth team which has once again reached the final of the County Cup and children's age grade rugby through our Junior Drovers from 16 years of age down to six. Not a bad return in comparison to the wages spent on any one of many overseas players currently plying their trade at our regions, often at the expense of equally capable upcoming Welsh talent."
"Furthermore the Drovers success in developing talent has resulted in the following players that have pulled on the Drovers 1st team jersey and have gone on to represent Wales at all levels, including Under 18's with Rhodri Williams and Jake Randal, at Under 20's Adam Warren and Sam Soul (worth noting that neither of whom came through the Scarlets academy), Ed Siggery (now with Ponty) and Rhodri Jones (now with Llanelli); with full Wales caps awarded to Rob MacKusker and Josh Turnbull and George North. With this in mind does/can the WRU get better value for money £ for £ from any other Club in Wales? Unlike several other clubs who do not have any overheads to consider, we both own and maintain our own 18 acres facilities and have to budget for the associated running and operating costs in addition to financing a competitive semi professional Premiership 1st team."
"On behalf of our members, supporters, players and coaching staff I would like to reassure you all that we as a Committee will do our utmost as always to ensure that we do everything possible to continue to maintain our status, as our players and coaches have and will do on the field of play. Whether we do or not will be down to the WRU themselves - who have on so many occasions over the years highlighted the Drovers 'set up' as a model template for other aspiring clubs to emulate."
"May I take the opportunity to thank todays match sponsors George Parker of Parker Plant Hire, Gareth Milton & Sian Jones of GJCS, a group of Local Builders & Friends and the Llandovery Council Boys and our matchball sponsor Brian Edmunds for your continuing support of the Drovers. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi gyd!"
"Diolch hefyd i ein noddwyr, a big thank you also to our loyal Patron's who today will be sitting down and enjoying our traditional end of season Patron's Lunch prior to the match. We hope you have a memorable day and can celebrate a victory together at the bar when the final whistle blows!"
"Er Gwaethaf Pawb a Phopeth Ni Yma o Hyd!"
" Ymlaen Y Porthmyn!"
"Handel Davies"