These games may not have the same draw as years gone by when they were virtually mini-international matches and watched by tens of thousands but neither side takes these games lightly. Since regional rugby Newport has the edge – except that is for the last two  seasons when Newport have only managed one draw out of four matches and conceded their first double to the Blue & Blacks in the semi-pro era.
Newport, already hard hit with seven players on the injury list, now have a further four players taken from them for the Cross Keys’ British & Irish Cup game. The four include club captain Ollie Griffiths, centre Barney Nightingale, wing Ashton Hewitt and prop Alex Jeffries.
There are those who argue that Region “A” sides should be entered into the B&IC and this will enable the Regions to have a look at their Academy and fringe players and that it will also raise the profile of the competition. The counter arguments are that Premier Clubs already do their bit in giving game time to these players so why hi-jack one of the few competitions open to them? Furthermore it is probably naive to believe that Regional sides will raise the profile and bring the crowds in. The competition has not been that well supported in the past even with the Irish regional sides and if the same thing happens as when Regional rugby replaced club rugby in Wales then there will be a dramatic fall off in support. It also begs the question as to what is the point in having B&IC qualifying matches in the regions in August when those players who have helped their teams to qualify are cast aside and the squad is then drawn from all the teams within that region? It is likely that there will only be 4 registered Cross Keys players in the squad of 22 for Saturday’s match and it is not only Keys players who have suffered as Dragons’ Shaun Connor has been installed as coach. Scottish teams have already withdrawn from the competition this season and you have to fear for the very future of this competition now.
Newport are down to the very bare bones with no fewer than 11 players now unavailable. They are forced to switch full-back Geraint O’Driscoll to centre and have 2 hookers and 2 scrum-halves on the bench. Adam Brown takes over the captaincy.
Newport: J Murphy, J Morris, G O’Driscoll, D Franchi, O Broad, M O’Brien, O Davies.
D Pattison, D Rogers, J Monk, Adam Brown (capt), A Frampton, S Cross, R Jenkins, S Feehan.
Replacements : E Whitson, W Evans, L Jenkins, S Waldron, D Partridge, A Quick, J Lewis, J Mogg.
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