THE chances of Newport playing in the European Parker Pen tournament next season are about to take a big step forward.

A high powered Welsh Rugby Union delegation headed by chief executive David Moffett will fly out to a European meeting in Dublin next week to try to resolve Welsh teams' future involvement in the two competitions.

The situation has changed dramatically with the demise of Celtic Warriors, meaning Wales has one less team in the premier Heineken Cup tournament as things stand at the moment.

It leaves Llanelli Scarlets, Newport Gwent Dragons and Neath-Swansea Ospreys as the three Welsh teams remaining in the Heineken Cup.

ERC, Europe's governing body, has said they always want at least one Welsh team to play in the Parker Pen.

Cardiff Blues were the lowest placed Welsh side at the end of the season, and until the Warriors crash it meant they would have to play in the competition.

But now the WRU are going to lobby for the Blues to be promoted back into the Heineken Cup, meaning Wales still have four teams represented.

That could well open the way for Newport as Welsh Premier Division champions to be put forward as the Welsh team to go into the Parker Pen competition.

It would probably be in the second tier shield competition involving the lesser Spanish, Romanian and Italian teams. Finance would also be a problem with high travelling costs, but given the level of support Newport still attract sponsorship should not prove a problem.

And the appeal of playing in European competition should also attract players to Newport in the way that used to happen, apart from giving added recognition to the premier division and an incentive for winning the title where none exists now.

If Newport do go in Rodney Parade would host two teams playing in Europe next season.

* The WRU are set to announce a deal believed to be worth £2m for Welsh brewing giants SA Brain to sponsor the Wales jersey. Their name will feature on the Welsh jersey for the autumn series.

But the big carrot is sponsorship of the Millennium Stadium for naming rights, a potentially massive deal which could be concluded soon. BT And Barclays Bank are believed to be front runners.

* Wales captain Colin Charvis completed his move to Zurich Premiership Newcastle yesterday on a two-year contract.

The back row forward has left from French Second Division club Tarbes after nearly a year there.

His involvement with a leading English club will not only sustain his involvement in rugby at a high level, but will come as a boost for new Wales coach Mike Ruddock.

The claims that only Newport Gwent Dragons were interested in signing Charvis, however, have been strongly denied by the other three regions.