WELSH sports fans are being urged to watch their heroes in action at the Newport Beer and Cider Festival at Rodney Parade next weekend.

Warren Gatland's Welsh rugby players will be tackling Australia in their eagerly anticipated final group game in the World Cup on Saturday afternoon, where they stand on the brink of booking their place in the quarter finals, whilst in the evening Chris Coleman's football stars will be tackling Bosnia-Herzegovina with the chance of qualifying for the UEFA European Championships.

Both matches will be shown live on the big screens in what promises to be a 'fantastic atmosphere', whilst there will also be live music and street food.

The two day festival, which runs from October 9-10, will feature around a dozen different breweries.

Newport brewers Tiny Rebel will be along two new beers for the festival: the White Hawk Down and a Straight Outta Sherwood forest fruit beer.

Street food traders in the city will provide the grub including Mr Croquewhich, Dirty Bird Chicken, Parc Pantry and Big Fish Little Fish.

Brewers will also include Sharps, presenting a selection of beers including the Doom Bar, Atlantic, Cornish pilsner and Wolf Rock.

The Otley brewery will have Columbo, Thai Bo and Motley Brew beers.

Besides its Welsh red ale called Cwtch, Tiny Rebel will also serve Hadouken, Fubar, and NP10 beers.

Mumbles Castle will bring a world cup beer among others, the festival organisers said.

There will also be live music from the Brotherhood band on both evenings.

Beers from the Untapped brewers are set to include a 4.5% aromatic U.P.A Hoppy Pale Ale, a 4.2% Monnow Welsh Best Bitter, a refreshing 4.0% Sundown Golden Ale, a pitch black Triple S Simply Super Stout, and a 6.5% Cool Fermented Coldharbour.

Other delights will come from the Crafty Devil, Boss and Tudor breweries and Wye Valley including Butty Bach, Dorothy Goodboddys, Golden Al and HPA drinks.

There will also be cider from Raglan and Williams Cider including the Bonk, Growler, Spanky, Hooker, Biffin and Black island brands.

The festival will open at the Newport stadium at 4pm on Friday and beer will flow until 11pm. The fest will run between 11am and 11pm on Saturday.

Tickets are priced at £5 per person and can be purchased on the door or in advance at www.newportgwentdragons/tickets.