NEWPORT'S new captain Adam Brown is optimistic his team can right the wrongs of last season's "humiliating" campaign, writes Iwan Davies.

The vastly experienced 27-year-old second row takes over as skipper from openside flanker Ollie Griffiths who has signed a regional contract with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Brown, who played in England's Aviva Premiership for London Welsh, is determined the Black and Ambers atone for their woeful recent season.

The club finished bottom of the Principality Premiership, avoiding relegation because Bargoed failed to secure promotion because of criteria reasons, despite being runaway Swalec Championship winners.

Newport won just five league games, losing 17 and were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Swalec Cup by Carmarthen Quins.

The towering 6ft 6in and 18st 1lb lock, who also played for the Dragons, is delighted at the chance of leading the club after being chosen by head coach Craig Warlow who took over in the Rodney Parade hot seat after Sven Cronk left in March.

Newport-born and bred Brown said: "I feel extremely proud and honoured to be asked to captain Newport RFC this season and when Craig asked me I didn't hesitate to say yes.

"I am aware of the rich history this club has and I am proud to be able to say I have played for and now been club captain of such a huge rugby club.

"With losing so many experienced players due to retirement or moving on to pastures new, losing an outstanding player in our captain Ollie Griffiths who's deservedly moved on to the Dragons and with welcoming a whole new crop of younger players, you can say this year will certainly be challenging but as a group of players it is something we have embraced and we have been working extremely hard under excellent guidance of the coaching team to correct the wrongs from last season.

"I personally felt humiliated with our final league position at the end of last season and everyone within the squad last year would say the same ¬– it most certainly wasn't through lack of effort and there are lots of ifs and buts, however it's done now, it's in the past and we cannot dwell on it."

Brown is hoping to give the fans something to smile about after a number of lean years: "We can't change what happened last year or throughout the history of this club so what we need to do is move on and focus on what we can effect and that is this season, with this current group of players achieving what we are capable of and trying to create our own success and that will definitely be my message to the lads.

"I am excited about the season ahead and I am confident we can turn a few heads for positive reasons and give the supporters something to enjoy."

The Black and Ambers host Abercarn in a pre-season friendly at Rodney Parade on Wednesday evening (kick-off 7.15pm). Entry is free.