1987-88 became a season to forget with problems both on and off the field. Mike Watkins severed his connections with the club and there was an unprecedented spate of injuries. Paul Turner had accepted the vice captaincy but then decided to join London Welsh and worse was to follow with captain Rhys Morgan being injured and advised to take a long rest from rugby. It was left to flanker Roger Powell to take up the reins but within weeks the Newport pack - arguably one of the best in the country - was decimated with injuries to Frank Hillman, Wayne Rendall, John Widdecombe, Andrew Perry and Robert Young and Alan Williams suspended leaving only 3 of Newport's match winning pack - Powell, Waters and George.
Further injuries followed to Nigel Callard and Shaun McWilliam and coaches Tony Faulkner and Roy Duggan resigned with Keith James and Jim McCreedy stepping into the breach. Rhys Morgan returned to pass Keith Poole's record of 486 appearances and ended with 507.
Towards the end of the season new players Chris Scott (flanker) and Gary Abraham (outside half) gave hope for the future as did the play of fullback Jon Callard and flanker Glen George.
Jon Callard was top points scorer on 218pts and also top try scorer with 24 tries - a club record for fullback for Newport. Marc Batten scored 17 tries and scrum half Nigel Callard equalled the club record of 6 tries in a match in Newport's 50 v 6 win vs Penarth in September 1987.