NEWPORT Gwent Dragons outside half Steffan Jones is a major doubt for Thursday’s RaboDirect PRO12 derby clash with Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade. The talented 21-year-old injured his groin playing at fly half for Cross Keys in their Premiership
WALES will try to run Italy off their feet this afternoon to move within touching distance of a Grand Slam. Warren Gatland’s side are hot favourites to record a fourth Six Nations win at the Millennium Stadium that will leave them 80 minutes from glory
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons centre Jack Dixon had a solid game as young Wales just sneaked home against a spirited Italian side. Wales' victory at Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay came courtesy of an interception try in the dying minutes.
PONTYPOOL 11 NEATH 20 AIDED by the wind and Park slope, Neath dominated the first half but only led 8-0 at the break. Ex-Cross Keys fly-half Dai Langdon slotted a fifth-minute penalty and crossed for an opportunist try midway through the half. The
CROSS KEYS 42 SWANSEA 7 CROSS Keys’ Premiership charge gathered momentum with a superb bonus point victory over Swansea to fully avenge October's 27-10 defeat at St Helen's. Led by tighhead prop Craig Gould on his 200th appearance
NEWPORT 24 PONTYPRIDD 15 NEWPORT’S mini-revival continued at Rodney Parade last night with a terrific 24-15 win against title-chasing Pontypridd. The Black and Ambers repeated the magnificent defensive display that had earned victory against Neath
VISITORS to the fourth Vintage Fair in Abergavenny can expect to see a catwalk show and jive dancing demonstrations. Amanda Peters, chairwoman and co-founder of Vintage Vision, a social enterprise, said that the event offers something for young
NEWPORT West MP Paul Flynn called on the Westminster government to do more to help war veterans who suffer with mental health problems as a result of their service. Speaking at the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mr Flynn congratulated the Welsh
ONE wonders if Italy captain Sergio Parisse is just playing mind games or just being brutally honest when he writes off his side’s chances of winning tomorrow as ‘mission impossible’. Frankly speaking, with the Azzurri 25-1 to win at the bookies
CAERPHILLY County Borough Council is considering banning smoking in all its play areas. The council’s Living Environment Scrutiny Committee will meet on March 20 to discuss the prospect of adopting a smoke-free policy in its parks and playgrounds
A NEWPORT boy will be starring in a stage musical alongside former EastEnders actress Samantha Womack next month after impressing in previous shows. Rico Scarpato, seven, of Hoskins Street, will play the part of Jerome in the UK theatre tour
A CENTRE offering a loans and advisory service to schools and nurseries in Monmouthshire and Torfaen is due to officially open today. The schools literary and resource centre is based at Torfaen Business Park, New Inn, near Pontypool, and loans
A SERVICE of re-dedication will take place in May to mark the relocation of a memorial commemorating the victories in Europe and Japan. The ceremony, organised by the Royal British Legion, will be held at the memorial’s new home at Mariners Green
A WOMAN was airlifted to hospital after an accident on Cwmavon Road in Blaenavon this afternoon. Emergency services said fire crews were called to the scene of an incident involving a black Renault Megane and red Fiat Punto at 12.39pm, and
IN a TV world dominated by police shows dripping in testosterone, Scott & Bailey is a breath of fresh air. Starring former Coronation Street actress Suranne Jones and the doyenne of intelligent British drama Lesley Sharp (as DC Rachel Bailey and DC
FIFTEEN Gwent schools could each get £10,000 from the Welsh government to help them improve. Education minister Leighton Andrews said that schools in band four and five – judged as needing to improve – can submit action plans with improvement targets
ONE person has been airlifted to hospital following an accident on Cwmavon Road in Blaenavon this afternoon. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to the scene of an incident involving two vehicles at 12.39pm, and cut one
TWO new geocaching trails have been launched in Gwent, giving adventurers a chance to track down hidden treasures across the valleys. Geocaching sees people using GPS technology or smart phones to navigate their way around trials to find hidden
THE Bloody Ballad of Mary Maid is the first production by a new Welsh company called Gagglebabble led by Abergavenny-born performer Lucy Rivers. The show comes to her home town next week when the Borough Theatre hosts it on Wednesday, March 14
WILD garlic soup and foraging in woodlands of Abergavenny are on the menu at the second Wild Garlic Festival. Former journalist and festival organiser Stephen Powell, who set up a community forest farm at Llwyn Ffranc Farm on the slopes of
THERE are still tickets left to see Lostprophets perform in Cardiff next month on their first headline UK tour in two years. The tour coincides with the release of their brand new album Weapons out on April 2. After successful tours in 2010, in
THE KING and I, one of the best loved musicals of all time, comes to Cardiff’s New Theatre next week. It stars This Life star Ramon Tikaram and Josefina Gabrielle, whose musical highlights include The Witches of Eastwick, Sweet Charity and the lead
FOLLOWING the success of his top six debut solo album Young Pilgrim, former Busted star Charlie Simpson comes to Cardiff next month. His new tour coincides with brand new EP, Farmer & His Gun, which is released on March 25. The EP will contain
ARE you planning a street party for all the neighbours, or celebration to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June? Tell our reporter Chris Wood about it on 01633 777251 or email him at chris.wood@southwalesargus.co.uk
A MAN who was allegedly beaten and set on fire died of a combination of his injuries, a pathologist told a court yesterday. Ramunas Raulinautis, 34, was found outside the Gateway Express Hotel in Chepstow Road, Newport, on March 9 last year
KATE Humble will not present the next series of Springwatch, the show she has fronted for the last eight years. Ms Humble, who lives in Monmouthshire and runs a rural skills centre at Meend Farm, Penallt, will be replaced by Really Wild Show
CWMBRAN-BASED Yes Loans said yesterday it is considering an appeal after its licence was revoked for “deceitful and oppressive” business practices. The company, based in Llantarnam Park, said it is taking advice over lodging an appeal over the
THE death of the 400th British soldier Afghanistan is no more tragic than the first. But the 400th UK death is a milestone that should make us all stop and ask how long this can continue. It will be 11 years in November since troops from this
A MOTHER and child were taken to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital following a flat fire in Newport. Crews from Malpas and Maindee were called to the second floor flat at the Old Barn Estate, St Julians, at 6.21pm on Thursday. A spokeswoman for South
SAM Foley isn’t one to mince his words and he’s clear on the opportunity facing him and his County colleagues this weekend, a chance to live every kid’s dream. The Exiles are just 180 minutes from a first ever appearance at Wembley Stadium with a two-legged
NEWPORT pupils showed off their new uniform yesterday ahead of the move into their new £29 million building. Hartridge High pupils tried out the new look ready for when they move into the new state-of-the-art school next month, which will be known
COUNTY V WEALDSTONE (FA Trophy semi-final, tomorrow, KO 3pm) NEWPORT County boss Justin Edinburgh is wary of Ryman Premier Wealdstone and the stats of their season make it clear why. The Stones have lost just six of their last 38 league and FA Trophy
A FORMER soldier who stole more than £40,000 from a charity set up to maintain a Gwent landmark was told to pay back just over £1,000 yesterday. William Pritchard, 58, of Llanvetherine, Abergavenny, benefited from more than £47,000 from his
THE Welsh Government’s plans for changes in organ and tissue donation legislation moved a step closer yesterday following a public consultation. Results from a 12-week consultation on a proposed change to be able to opt out in Wales showed out
A NEWPORT couple are demanding answers after their baby son was left with brain damage. Casey Hard was born on November 9 last year but it wasn’t until January 24 this year that his parents Nahella and Anthony, of Jamaica Grove, Coedkernew,
PONTYPOOL must cope without talisman back row forward Geraint Morris in tonight’s home encounter with Premiership leaders Neath, writes Chris Kirwan. The blindside flanker came off in last weekend’s terrific 32-13 win against Cardiff after suffering
CROSS Keys look to maintain their Premiership bid after two excellent away wins when they entertain Swansea at Pandy Park this evening. Greg Woods’ men are sixth in the table and on a high after beating fifth-placed Llanelli and second-placed Llandovery
NEWPORT head coach Sven Cronk believes the spirit shown by his charges is summed up by the gusto with which prop Dai Pattison has switched sides in the scrum. The Black and Ambers may be languishing in 12th but they are one of the form teams in the Premiership
WALES V ITALY (Tomorrow KO 2.30) RHYS Priestland has vowed to put his Twickenham horror show behind him this weekend and repay Wales coach Warren Galtand’s faith in him. The Scarlets outside-half starts for Italy’s visit to the Millennium Stadium tomorrow
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons fly-half Jason Tovey is up for selection for Thursday’s derby clash with the side that he will be plying his trade with next season. The 22-year-old is leaving Rodney Parade for Cardiff Blues in the summer after five seasons with
COUNTY V WEALDSTONE (FA Trophy semi final first leg, tomorrow KO 3pm) NEWPORT County manager Justin Edinburgh has warned his players that they’ll never get a better chance to play at football’s most famous stadium. The Exiles are just 180 minutes away
NEWPORT Market will get a £750,000 facelift to help it attract more shoppers, councillors decided. The city’s planning committee passed proposals, which will see the historic High Street facade, entrance and stalls improved, at a meeting on
A GWENT politician is backing moves to make forced marriages a criminal offence. South Wales east assembly member Mohammad Asghar claims such acts are a breach of human rights laws which states: “marriage shall be entered into only with the
WALES V ITALY (Tomorrow KO 2.30) NEWPORT Gwent Dragons star Luke Charteris has admitted he’s got it all to do to regain his Wales shirt with main competitor Ian Evans in top form. Charteris is set for his international comeback tomorrow, the second
