1988-89 under new captain Glen George started with problems with players Jon Callard, David Pitt, Andy Pocock, Hassan Ali, Jason White, Mike Arthur and Wayne Rendall all missing. Narrow defeats vs Coventry, Pontypool (A), Swansea (A) and Gloucester could easily have been wins. A good run then ended with a last minute defeat at Pontypridd. A draw with Bath 21 v 21 was followed by a defeat vs Newbridge and a further home defeat in 3rd round of Welsh Cup against Newbridge. However with some players returning from injury - although vice captain David Woods suffered with knee problems - things improved later in the season and a run of 8 wins was achieved.

Damion Griffiths (wing) was selected for Wales U21 and Wales B and Ian McKim played for Wales Youth. Rhys Morgan (531) and David Waters (526) both passed 500 appearances for Newport. Rhys played for the Barbarians and David was in the Wales 7's squad in Australia. David also won the Martin Webber Memorial Trophy for clubman of the year.

Top points scorer was Gary Abraham with 301pts while wings John Thomas (21) and Damion Griffiths (19) led the try scorers. Marc Batten scored his 100th try for the club and Jon Callard completed 500pts for the 1st XV. Glen George and David Waters made most appearances with 42 each.

Despite seeing its last first class County Championship cricket game, between Glamorgan and Warwickshire, in 1965, Rodney Parade was still clinging on as a venue for first class cricket, as witnessed by Glamorgan's Refuge Assurance League game against Gloucestershire on 7th May 1989. Sadly, for a ground that had seen Newport and District play a W. G. Grace All England XI in 1881, and regular cricket since, this was to prove the last game to be played on the ground before it was developed. A subsequent one day fixture, against Yorkshire in 1990, was abandoned without a ball being bowled. In all Glamorgan had played 31 games at Rodney Parade, including county championship, friendlies and one day games.