NEWPORT Rugby Supporters' Club intend to present the Welsh Rugby Union with more than 10,000 reasons why the city name should be in the title of the new Gwent regional side.

That is the amazing number of people who have signed the petition, started only just over a week ago, to maintain the Newport name at the top level of Welsh rugby.

It is a few thousand more than the number collected by Llanelli, which was believed to have played a major part in that club standing alone with Cardiff in the new five-team regional rugby set-up.

And organisers of the petition remain hopeful that even at this late date the massive groundswell of support will persuade the WRU that for commercial reasons Newport must be in the new region's name.

MPs and local politicians have given their support and over the weekend Newport's Former Players Association added their backing as the numbers signing the petition swelled to 10,182.

Only on Saturday, Newport benefactor Tony Brown said the WRU had to back him or Marcus Russell of Ebbw Vale in the dispute over the name of the new side to play in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup competitions next season.

It is expected WRU chief executive David Moffett will have to intervene in the row when he returns from holiday tomorrow.

And he will be asked to accept the petition from the organisers later this week.

Brown told the Argus: "The choice is to have a financially sound operation or the alternative of someone having to pick up an enormous amount of debt."

That is because he believes that without the name of Newport behind it, the new region would not be financially viable.

Newport Supporters' Club chairman Dennis Bennett commented: "I understand Tony's feelings. He's a successful businessman and he didn't become that by selling customers something they don't want.

"I don't think people will buy the product currently on offer."

He added: "Newport supporters were in the city on Saturday and the willingness of people to sign the petition made it a pleasant job for the collectors with many people stopping to give words of encouragement.

"Latest well-known figures to sign are John Ryan and Colin Smart, Newport's coach and captain when the club beat Cardiff to win the Welsh Cup in 1977.

"The Supporters' Club also received a letter from Ewart Pryer, chairman of the Black and Ambers' Former Players Association, saying they wished to support our efforts to ensure the name of Newport is included in the name of the new regional team."

In addition, Bennett was at the Wales v South Africa Under-21 World Cup game in Newbury on Saturday and said he spoke to people from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia who added their support.

"They were well aware of the standing of Newport in world rugby and expressed surprise at developments," he said.