NO-ONE appreciates more than me the part played by the fans at Rodney Parade in creating the atmosphere, particularly at the Welsh derbies, that has made it a special place to be.

The way some Ospreys players in particular allow themselves to be wound up by all the taunting almost beggars belief, but it happens and it all contributes to the sense of occasion, one that even Wales coach Warren Gatland says he enjoys and appreciates. And the way the supporters made their presence felt in the renowned Shed at Kingsholm for the LV Cup semi-final in March was another highlight.

The retention of a number of young players, the likely signing of some better ones, the youthful coaching team and their fresh ideas plus the new stand and hospitality suite currently going up promises to make Rodney Parade the envy of the other regions.

If a limited capacity of little over 5,000 fans can make the noise they did for the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues matches in April, then double that number will raise the roof on the new stand next season.

But in no way am I being contradictory and neither do I intend backing down when I say that a number overdid it in the final game against Ulster and their abusive foul-mouthed insults aimed at the referee were unacceptable.

Some people who were unable to attend the match but watched it on television have told me they even picked the comments up there.

I repeat, such behaviour needs to be curbed before it becomes a real problem, not least because it will undo much of the hard work being done off the field and could have the effect of being counter-productive, turning referees against the team.

It appears this has stirred up a hornets’ nest, with different groups either claiming nothing of the sort was said, it was down to a vivid imagination on my part, that I must be going deaf or that it wasn’t them.

One section has invited me to stand with them during a game to see, or hear, for myself. It is an invitation I’ve accepted, though it may have to be in disguise wearing a Toby Faletau wig!

HENSON SAGA

THE Gavin Henson controversy rumbles on. Should he have been drafted back into the Wales squad after just two starts in two years since he went AWOL from the game and instead embarked on a so-called celebrity break from the game?

Instead of making breaks on the field, he appeared in TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing.

And when he did announce his comeback he deserted the Ospreys, who had granted him unpaid leave of absence, and instead joined the Saracens after saying he wanted to be nearer his children who were then London-based with his estranged partner Charlotte Church.

But his sojourn in the metropolis didn’t last long either and he uprooted and flew off to France to join big-spending Toulon, no doubt attracted by the money and the climate.

It didn’t take long for him to get into trouble there, as he had in the past.

An alleged bust-up with members of his new team, said to involve Jonny Wilkinson, led to his suspension by his new club.

He was ultimately reinstated after a long drawn-out process which is where we are right now. But where will Henson be next?

In the Welsh team to play the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium on June 4, of that there is no doubt because Warren Gatland wants him for rugby reasons to see where he is while WRU commercial chiefs want him because they believe it will increase the attendance. But after that? Will Toulon want to retain him if he does make Wales’ World Cup squad thus making him unavailable for the first two months of next season? And if he fails to make the cut will Toulon still want a player who can be trouble? If not where next for the wayward Henson?

Not Rodney Parade and the Dragons surely. For I place myself firmly in the camp of people like Michael Owen, who says the privilege of being in line to play for Wales has not been earned by him and Paul Thorburn who says he wouldn’t be in any squad of his and claims there are players in it who can’t stand him.

Should make for a happy summer on the Wales rugby front, almost as side-splitting as the Ospreys tearing themselves apart, vastly underperforming on the pitch which was rewarded by giving new contracts to big two Andrew Hore and Scott Johnson while star names leave voluntarily or involuntarily as the case may be.

UNSUNG HEROES

IN these professional days how refreshing to meet up with some of the unsung guys of the past who sweated blood far more than any of today’s so-called superstars yet never got that far in the game.

They were in it because they loved it, they worked as hard at their jobs off the field yet still love the game though they witness inferior players handsomely rewarded.

A pleasure it was, therefore, to spend a little time on Saturday night at a surprise birthday party for Newport Saracens stalwart hooker Brian Flook who also enjoyed a decent first class career with Newbridge and Abertillery.

The place was flooded out with old and not so old Sarries like Stuart Clode, John Goldsworthy, Mark Thom, David Cain and Paddy Burke. And Flook’s employer (he’s still working at 70) Roger James and partner John Clements took a break from performing at their own concert in their major musical sideline with the James Boys nearby to make an unheralded visit. Happy times!

SEVE ONE OF THE GREATS

NOT many may realise it, but Seve Ballesteros who sadly died last week, was no stanger to these parts.

The glittering Spaniard played in the old Dunlop Masters, later re-named the Silk Cut Masters, at St Pierre back in the 1970s.

And Paul Mayo, the head professional at Newport Golf Club, recalls how he played alongside him and what a perfect gentleman he was.

The European Tour has just produced a marvellous brochure to commemorate the life of the player who went on to entrance the sporting arena.

There are tributes from around the world ranging from the Spanish prime minister to the president of the International Olympic Committee to the voice of golf Peter Alliss, to Rafael Nadal, to the Barcelona football manager.

And so it goes on. If ever there was a man who crossed the divide, who enthused everyone with his magic it was the wizard known throughout the planet simply as Seve.