THE big day is Monday, July 28. That is the date regional rugby in Gwent will be officially launched under the name Gwent Dragons.

The players will be officially unveiled, the new strip (believed to very close to Newport's black and amber strip) will be paraded and the season's campaign uncorked.

The venue has still to be decided but one venue that has been decided upon is Rodney Parade, where the Dragons will play their home games.

After Gwent director and Ebbw Vale boss Marcus Russell yesterday told the Argus an agreement would be reached with Newport Rugby over the venue, Dragons chief executive David Jenkins confirmed it.

"As chief executive in charge of getting the business of the ground to meet time frames I have decided we will play at Rodney Parade," he said.

"The offices are here, the facilities are here and we have to get cracking.

"Although Pontypool was an option we haven't got time to carry on the negotiating so I'm just going ahead and getting it sorted out based at Newport.

"I'm leaving the financial situation to the two parties to resolve.

"We have a really professional agency in charge and we are getting the season ticket campaign and the brand and whatever sorted out."

Newport director Martyn Hazell confirmed he and Ebbw Vale chief Marcus Russell were close to an agreement on the Dragons' use of Rodney Parade.

The price of tickets and details of other matters will be announced after the launch, but Jenkins said: "I think people will be pleasantly surprised.

He added: "That week we are hoping to use the local Press to get the campaign going with good coverage.

We hope to build up some momentum in the week leading up to the season ticket application forms hitting the doorsteps.

"It's late, but I think people will be very pleasantly surprised when they see our pricing structure and some of the benefits they will enjoy.

"Last year Newport were asking £260 for a Premier Stand. season ticket. Ours will be more cost effective than that."

And he concluded: "I'm now a lot more optimistic now. I've heard some positive things.

"I think that now we've resolved things and got the name and everything people are realising they want to watch the best rugby.

"I think we will get greater support than people anticipate.

"I think people will be pleasantly surprised that we're making regional rugby attractive both from a playing and pricing perspective."