Newport won the South Wales Challenge Cup for the second year in succession in 1882-83 under new captain Charles Newman beating Newport Crusaders, Oakfield (Cwmbran), Abergavenny and finally Swansea in the final in front of 8,000 crowd.

Blackheath made their second ever visit but this time the score was much closer with Newport going down by 1 try to 2.

This was to be a new page in Newport's famous history - it was the last for Charles Newman and the first for a player who was to become Newport and Wales's first super star - a certain Arthur Gould who was later called the "Prince of Players". He was destined to become the greatest threequarter rugby had ever known. He made his debut as a precocious and somewhat undersized 18year old against Weston Super Mare on 18th November 1882 at Rodney Parade. Fred Dowdall had been selected at fullback but when groundsman John Butcher went to his house on Saturday he was told by his wife that he would be unable to play due to attending a funeral. Arthur Gould passed by and Butcher asked him if he wanted to play if Mr Richard Mullock and the captain agreed. Arthur had always played at threequarter but could tackle and kick and during the match the captain often said "Kick you young devil !" when he decided to run. The young Arthur ran in 2 of Newport's 3 tries and so impressed the committee that he jumped straight into the first team and stayed there for many years to come.

Interestingly Gould was one of three fullbacks used by Newport that season with Fred Dowdall and G. 'Evans' Rosser the others although the latter two also played in the threequarters.