NEWPORT Gwent Dragons is the name of the county's new regional rugby set-up - and that's official.

The region's directors met with the Welsh Rugby Union yesterday and confirmed the change of name, exclusively revealed in the Argus last week.

There was no pressure put on them to change it back to simply Gwent Dragons and no threat of the withdrawal of up to £800,000 in funding.

But with just 1,600 people signed up as season ticket holders, the company today called on the 7,000 Newport supporters who signed the petition to keep their club's name in the title to come out and support the team.

"There was no pressure put on us," said Dragons chief executive David Jenkins. "We have a pretty good relationship with the Welsh Rugby Union and they merely wanted to know how far we have proceeded with our regional plans.

"We are still working to attract sponsorship. But don't forget we were talking to people on the basis of one name a few weeks ago and now that's changed.

"We are now talking to other parties and I'm hopeful we can persuade them to back the new regional entity. But what we do want is for those people who signed the petition to come forward and support us on Saturday and thereafter.

"So far we have 1,600 season ticket-holders (Newport have about 1,200) and we need those missing thousands to get behind us."

Under the constitution of the regional set-up, the resignation of Marcus Russell (Ebbw Vale) meant Newport's Martin Hazell, as the sole remaining director, was empowered to change the name. The one fear is that when Ebbw Vale appoint their new director the issue could be reopened.

But Jenkins doesn't believe that will happen and stressed the importance of moving forward under the new regional name.

On the question of funding, Jenkins stressed: "We have recieved all our payments on time from the Welsh Rugby Union."

But the Argus understands there are some funding issues still to be resolved with the WRU.