EIGHTEEN months ago, they were a group of 80 hopefuls who thought they would support their local rugby region by trying out for a new choir.

They included whole families, teachers, supermarket workers and hospital staff.

They were young, they were old, but they had two things in common - a love of rugby and desire to sing.

Today, they are the award-winning Gwent Dragons Choir - gunning for chart success and preparing to sing in front of 75,000 at the Millennium Stadium for the second time.

On February 3, their first single Cwm Rhondda is released for digital download, and the rugby-mad singers are hopeful of entering the top 40.

Leading the troops, as she has done throughout the last year, is conductor and new mum Helen Robbins.

Helen joined the choir initially as a chorister but stepped up to be conductor after the groups' desperate attempts to find one failed.

The Penygarn Community School teacher was used to leading her pupils but making the step up was a big challenge.

"If I didn't do it the choir might have folded. It's been a great experience and we've had some great times."

A new face at Tuesday night practice is that of baby Jack - born on Christmas Eve after spending nine months listening to the rousing renditions of classic Welsh hymns.

"We brought him to his first practice the other day and he slept through it. I think he's used to all the singing by now." she added.

Sally Hughes was devastated when her husband John, a huge Newport rugby fan, died in 2005.

A year after his death, Mrs Hughes, the oldest member of the choir at 82, from Newport, who has sung in choirs for decades, saw an advert in the Argus looking for keen singers to join the Dragons choir and take part in S4C's Codi Canu show.

She decided to join the choir with her two daughters in honour of her late husband.

It is a decision that has enriched her life and provided some thrilling experiences.

"Singing at the Millennium Stadium was a marvellous experience.

"John loved Newport rugby club and he would be very happy I was in the choir.

"He would always come and support me when I was singing with other choirs," the retired nurse said.

Part-time supermarket checkout worker Rona Button is one of the main driving forces behind the choir.

The fun-loving mum-of-two was chosen as one of 12 members of the choir to represent a 'super choir' at the Dubai rugby sevens in November and is also the group's treasurer.

While she has to refrain from belting out her favourite rugby songs at work, her family are unlikely to get much peace over the next few weeks as she prepares for March's performance at the Millennium Stadium.

"I'm often singing along to the radio at home and I will certainly be singing away over the next few weeks, practising all the words.

The 42-year-old from Caerleon has taken up Welsh lessons to help her sing the many Welsh language hymns.

"We're all having an absolutely fab time," she added.

The group sang the anthem before last year's battle with England after winning a competition on S4C's Codi Canu (Raise a Song)programme by beating choirs from the other Welsh regions.

The choir will take to the Millennium Stadium before the French game as they once again take on choirs from the three other rugby regions and representatives from North Wales.

You can follow the progress and training of the choir through the second series of Codi Canu, which begins tonight (sat) at 8.15pm on S4C.

The single is available for pre-order download at www.7digital.com/wales now or by texting WALES to 78789. Texts cost £1.50