Newport's Team Manager Nev Johnson and Coaches Gareth Evans and Roger Powell had taken steps to strengthen the squad and there were many new faces for the pre-season trial matches.
By the end of 1990, Newport, under captain Glen George, had won all 6 league games and had beaten Premier side Neath at Rodney Parade 19 v 7. This was the first time that Neath had lost to a Welsh team for 51 matches (since October 1989) and confirmed that Newport were once again on their way to regaining their status in Welsh rugby.
Newport went out of the cup in a titanic struggle at the Gnoll (18 v 9) against Neath but only after injuries to outstanding prop Mark Davis, wing Andrew Lewis and an unsavoury incident which left fullback Mark Yendle with a fractured cheekbone.
History was made when the league match at Aberavon became the first live televised club match in Wales. Newport won in style 38 v 21 and effectively sealed promotion. Newport surrendered an unbeaten home league record with a poor display against Maesteg but bounced back to seal the Division 1 Championship with a resounding win at Rodney Parade against South Wales Police 23 v 7. Further wins followed against Bristol (H) and Tredegar (A) in the league to end a fine season. Newport had scored 499pts and 83 tries in their 14 league matches - by far the highest number of tries in the top 4 divisions.
Outside-half Paul Turner capped a fine season with 291pts from his 27 games (127 from 9 league) followed by utility back Gary Abraham with 126pts. Back-row Kevin Withey (ex-Bath) was leading try scorer with 16 tries from 21 apps with scrum half David Llewellyn 15tries from 16 games. Centre Roger Bidgood (ex-Pontypool) made most appearances with 29.
Newport played 2 matches in the USA on their end of season tour and won both - Atlanta Renegades 9 v 15 and Georgia Select 15 v 31. Representative honours went to Glen George (Wales B captain and Wales caps vs England and Scotland), Alun Carter (Wales vs England and Scotland) and Mark Davis (Wales U21 and Wales cap in Australia June 1991). Scrum-half David Llewellyn was in the Welsh squad and on the bench for Wales U21 while Carter and George played for the Barbarians.
