AUSSIE flier Frank Smart is in a super confident mood. The Newport Wasps ace is, as ever, buzzing with enthusiasm and oozing self-belief. Smart is dusting off his bike to prepare for the Wasps' Knock-out Cup first round re-run with Edinburgh Monarchs
FOR years I'd wanted to eat at Le Cassoulet, Romilly Crescent, Canton, Cardiff - one of Wales' premier restaurants. So when I finally went along to Le Cassoulet I found that the food was everything I had expected it to be. But I was given a bit of a shock
SHE'S pictured with make-up and shiny tights, high heels and with her hair pinned back alluringly - but the Demi Holborn wheeled out in front of the Pontypool crowds last night was for hometown consumption. In a demure red-and-white checked blouse and
THEY say moving home is one of the top five most stressful experiences. And when you're looking for a place to make your own little nest for your little ones, it gets even worse. So spare a thought for Monmouthshire farmer Vernon Pugh who has given up
EBBW Vale RFC could cease to exist as a business today after making a desperate plea to the Welsh Rugby Union to help them bridge a £350,000 deficit. Vale were set to meet the WRU at 11am this morning to find out if the union could help bale them out
THINGS have really gone to pot at Tredegar House this weekend, with Newport's first Contemporary Ceramics Fair. Held in a marquee in the gardens, the fair shows work by many of the best crafts people in Britain - a good deal of whom hail from Wales. There
ROCK star Jon Lee killed himself after calling his wife and telling her: "I'm going to do something stupid," an inquest heard yesterday. The Newport-born drummer in rock band Feeder hanged himself with a metal dog chain at his home in Miami, the hearing
A MAN stabbed a Newport restaurateur on his front doorstep in an attack "which could easily have killed him", a court heard. Daljit Singh, 38, from Stapleton Road, Bristol, was yesterday jailed for six years after admitting wounding Mozadul Hussain with
NEXT weekend Meat Loaf takes to the stage in Cardiff Castle. Matthew Blythe spoke to the living legend about music, movies and staying twisted With 24 films and two hit albums under his belt since 1997 the slim Meat Loaf has proved as successful as the
A CWMBRAN man jailed for seven years yesterday for a series of sex offences told the court he had made 1,650 indecent photographs. Bradley Webb, (pictured) 42, posed as a teenage girl called Natasha and tried to persuade a 13-year-old from Cwmbran to
IF you are off to Party in the Park this weekend, keep an eye out for some talent-spotters. Because the agency which signed up Newport Model Behaviour winner Jenny Richards will be there searching for some new faces to add to their books. And jetsetter
NEWPORT'S Celtic Manor Resort hopes to build 235 extra bedrooms before playing host to the Ryder Cup in 2010. The hotel expects a significant rise in tourism both leading up to and following the golf tournament. But the expansion is also needed to cater
SPARE a thought for Gwent pole vaulter Tim Thomas. He's got one of the most dangerous jobs in athletics yet it's one where you can literally touch the sky. "Not many people know, but it is an extremely dangerous sport. Your defying science, the elements
THERE'S something for all the family on Britain's longest and most lovingly restored heritage railway covering 20 miles of stunning Somerset countryside and coastal scenery. Step back in time to the golden age of steam on a Great Western Railway country
NEWPORT rugby club are bracing themselves for the loss of one and possibly two of their top internationals for the start of the new season. Biggest concern is extremely popular and dynamic international scrum half Ofisa Tonu'u, who broke down during his
NEWPORT County midfielder Michael Fowler (pictured right) can vividly remember running out in front of a 50,000 crowd during his days at Crystal Palace. But tomorrow he'll he in more humble surroundings as the Exiles clash with Newport YMCA at Mendalgief
STEVEN Spielberg is being asked to film his major new TV series based on Arthurian legend in Caerleon - the place many people believe is the real Camelot. The film maker, famed for epics such as ET, Saving Private Ryan and, more recently, Minority Report
A YOUNG Gwent man was left dying in the back of a car while his friends socialised, an inquest heard yesterday. Gwent coroner David Bowen said he was "not impressed" with the behaviour of talented footballer Ryan Conway's friends, who had a "moral duty
EBBW VALE'S director of rugby Ray Harris has issued a plea to help the club find a backer in their hour of need, writes Ryland James. The Steelmen desperately need to find an investor willing to pay £350,000 to help them survive the forth coming season
CANTERBURY'S rustic folkies The Oysterband play Chepstow Castle on Wednesday July 24. Seemingly around forever, The Oysters have recently released a mammoth twiddle-fest CD titled Cooking Vinyl's best-of-Oysterband 1986-1997 which has been a critical
POLICE and council officers carried out a high-profile, two-day crackdown on crime "hot-spots" in the Risca area. Police, working alongside housing, environmental health and enforcement officers, carried out operations in Pantside and Ty-Sign within the
CWMBRAN Town's record appearance holder, Jimmy Blackie, has been forced to quit football due to a serious knee injury, writes Peter Shuttleworth. The 39-year-old centre-back - who skippered the Crows to League of Wales success in its inaugural season
ABERGAVENNY Festival is hoping to make up for the disappointments of last year and once again it's offering something for everyone. In its tenth anniversary year, the festival aims to appeal to residents and visitors alike with a packed and varied programme
Calculating the cost. There is a delightful word picture of a property developer, a Bible-times building tycoon in Luke's Gospel, chapter 14 and verse 28. Jesus gives some good advice to anyone contemplating such a task: "If any of you wanted to build
MIXING Radiohead and the Doves, branded are nice if unoriginal. But in a land of giants like shameless 'borrowers' Oasis and Fatboy Slim, does it really matter? Matthew Blythe spoke to drummer Hannah Dovey From the hijinx of Keith Moon to the godlike
THE Welsh Proms opened yon Thursday - and classical music lovers have a week of summer entertainment still to come. Tonight's Oscar Winners Prom features the Hall, but don't expect tears - this isn't weepy Oscar winner Halle Berry but Manchester's Hall
BILLY Reynolds is rightly proud of the amateur boxing club where he coaches. The George Street-based St Joseph's club in Newport is enjoying its most successful season. They have won 12 Welsh championship titles, including a first senior champion since
CWMCARN Paragon's off-road specialist Ross Porter has a reputation as one of the most dedicated and hard-working riders in Wales. From January to December, in all conditions, he is out clocking up the miles. Eight years of competitive racing has seen
NEWPORT rugby club are bracing themselves for the loss of one and possibly two of their top internationals for the start of the new season. Biggest concern is extremely popular and dynamic international scrum half Ofisa Tonu'u, who broke down during his
OPERA. The very word is enough to scare away many people who think that an acquaintance with Wagner and Puccini, not to mention a smattering of German and Italian, is necessary to even begin to understand. But young baritone Karl Daymond insists there's
