A Cup Final at The Principality Stadium against the ‘Old Enemy’ – it doesn’t get bigger than this for any Black & Amber supporter. We have met in the final on two occasions, Newport taking the spoils in 1977 and Cardiff getting revenge in 1986. I remember the 1977 game vividly, when our two class centres, David Burcher and Gareth Evans, stood down as they had been selected for The British Lions tour. Ironically, the two players who took their places, Neil Brown and Chris Webber, both made breaks which resulted in tries for wingers, Jeff Cranton and Ken Davies.
Both clubs are on top form with Cardiff on a winning run of 5 games and Newport on a run of 8 wins. The two previous cup final meetings were great rugby games and Sunday’s game should be the same. The Black and Ambers have played two games a week for the last three weeks and this has meant using all our squad and players outside the squad. The club wants to put on record our thanks to every one of those players for getting us to the position we are in and regrets that some players who deserve to play in a final will not be in the matchday 23.
The final 23 players will be selected after last minute fitness checks.
Newport: Thomas Davies, Henry Palmer, Nathan Evans, Craig Hudd, Ryan Woodman, George Young, Rhys Jenkins, Ben Roach, Dafydd Buckland, Matt O’Brien Captain, Elliot Frewen, Harri Ackerman, Chay Foster-Smith, Lloyd Lewis, Ioan Davies.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Tom Workman, Garin Harris, Elliot Ferriman, Lennon Greggains, Che Hope, Geraint O’Driscoll, Jon Morris.
Referee: Dewi Phillips
AR1: Gareth Newman
AR2: Jason Bessant
AR3: Karim Cosslett
A£4: Mark Jones
TMO: Wayne Davies
Venue: Principality Stadium
Kick-off: 5:35