These severe losses were marginally offset with the arrival of new players John Colderley, Vince Davies, Brian Davies, Gareth Taylor, Lee Jones and Nicky Lloyd. Jan Machacek (Czech Rep), Alex Lawson (Australia) and promising outside half Shaun Connor (Abertillery).
In the season Newport played 22 Welsh League, 5 European Conference, 6 Anglo-Welsh as well as various friendly and Welsh Cup games. The Anglo-Welsh competition was a non-event with some matches not even played and clubs concentrating on the league matches. The WRU moved the goal posts halfway through the season by announcing that the First Division (later to be known as Premier) would comprise of just 8 teams rather than 12.
The bonus points system which gave more reward to a team scoring tries and losing than one who drew was very controversial. Injuries played their part in Newport's difficult season under captain Richard Goodey in his third successive term as captain.
Only 4 players managed over 30 games and Newport's away form was very poor. Newport lost 8 league matches with heavy defeats at Swansea, Llanelli, Neath and Pontypridd. There was a narrow defeat at Ebbw Vale but an excellent performance at Cardiff when Newport played a lot of the match with only 14 men. Swansea and Pontypridd were the only teams to win at Rodney Parade in the league. Newport beat old rivals Cardiff in the last league match of the season at Rodney Parade 23 v 11 scoring 4 tries to 1 to end on a high note and finishing 6th in the league.
Shaun Connor played for Emerging Wales, Wales U21 and toured Japan with Wales 7's and finished as top scorer with 286pts in 28 games. Appearances were led by Ian Gough 36, Ian Jones 32, Nicky Lloyd 32 and Richard Goodey 30. Jan Machacek was leading try scorer with just 9. Ian Gough and Jon Colderley played for Wales U21 and Richard Parks and Mark Workman played for Wales 7's in Japan. Jan Machacek played for Czech Rep and Rod Snow for Canada.
