"COACHES CORNER"
"Darryl Jones ? Director of Rugby"
"With the pre-season friendly games now well and truly behind us today is when we get down to the business of the Welsh League and what a fixture to start with - Pontypool."
"It should be a tough encounter with Pontypool having clinched the Division One title last year and will be looking to hold onto this and wanting to start with a victory over the Black and Ambers. As another season begins and the revised Welsh League is introduced everyone at Newport is looking to make a big impression in the league."
"We expect Pontypooi to be very well prepared for the game today and have big ambitions just like ourselves - so today's match is a massive opportunity for both teams."
"Our build up for the seasons saw us have trial games against Cleve and Blackwood away. We then welcomed the Bristol Shoguns to Rodney Parade and what a game that was. It was fantastic to see so many supporters come out and support the team and I look forward to seeing you ail throughout the duration of the season. We concluded our pre-season fixtures with a game against Crosskeys who we will face later in the season."
"Preparation for today's game has gone well and despite our good form in the pre-season friendlies we all know that today is where we will be judged."
"We have a wealth of talent in the side which should ensure we are competitive in the league. A number of new faces have joined the Black and Ambers; Sione Tuipulotu, Craig Richards, Rob Allen, Will Kershaw-Naylor, Daniel Griffiths, prop, Craig Hawkins, Chay Billen, Sam Waldron and they have all fitted in well and will make key contributions to the Biack and Ambers throughout the season."
"The 2003/04 season is one we are all looking forward to and not wanting to make predictions this early in the season I can assure the Black and Amber Army we will all be giving no less than 100% in all we do, on and off the field."
"THE CLOSE SEASON"
"With the revival of Newport Rugby's fortunes under Tony Brown the close season was almost as keenly anticipated by supporters as the regular rugby. Through the summer months we were accustomed to our club being associated with some of the world's greatest players and coaches. Headlines and rumours abounded, and star players were signed."
"This summer has been a complete shock to the system. The implementation of "regional rugby" was always going to create problems for the owners of clubs, administrators, players and most of all, supporters."
" Along the way the shoddy treatment of Newport's interests by the Welsh Rugby Union was both as depressing as it was unsurprising. Many of you were emboldened by it and took part in an extraordinary one-issue campaign to ensure that the name of Newport was preserved in the name of the professional rugby team in this area."
"Thankfully, matters have turned full circle, commercial realities have come in to play and we have a regional team called Newport (and not forgetting Gwent!} and a semi-professional team representing Newport RFC. No doubt our supporters will rally behind both causes to ensure the prosperity of rugby in our City."
"Amidst the gloorn the first glimmer of hope came with Newport's friendly match with Bristol. A large crowd attended including a substantial and noisy contingent from across the Severn Bridge. Bristol have in rugby terms been to hell and back and their plight has been well documented. Relegated from the Zurich Premiership, they were initially faced with a merger with west country rivals Bath but are now owned by a new consortium which includes ex-players, all of whom are determined to restore the club to the topflight. The spirit of their players and supporters was a pleasure and it made for a wonderful atmosphere and a fine match between the two fledgling teams."
"Long may our association with English clubs continue! It was notable that Bristol brought more supporters along than most Welsh Premier teams we faced last season. Maybe someone at the WRU should have the foresight to talk to the RFU about a competition between the semi-professional sides in England and Wales. It would generate much needed revenue and be an excellent way of renewing cross-border rivalries. Instead of looking to the southern hemisphere for solutions to our rugby malaise perhaps we should look closer to home."
"So it has been a difficult and unforgettable summer without parallel in Newport's long history. It is a pleasure to draw it to a close and let the rugby commence."