My career has been saved

Percy Montgomery made this clear to me in his only interview with a journalist after his two-year ban, 18 months suspended, and £15,000 fine for pushing a touch judge.

"I'd love to stay at Newport and with Welsh rugby," Montgomery pledged to the Argus after a statement was issued on his behalf following last night's Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary hearing in Cardiff into the incident at Swansea on May 13.

"I came here to start something, and I want to finish it. I've committed myself here and I don't see myself going anywhere else," he said. "The fans have stood by me and so have the club and Tony Brown. I've now got to discuss my future with Tony, but I'm very positive.

"I've got a great passion for the game. I just want to try to play rugby, get on the field and express myself. I think I've still got a bit of rugby left in me!"

The biggest downside to the ban is that Montgomery will miss the World Cup for which he had every chance of being recalled by South Africa.

He was wanted after sparkling for Newport, scoring 207 including seven tries, scoring 29 points in one game and 27 in another.

"I'm shocked and disappointed by what has happened and by the whole thing," he told me.

"I'm disappointed my World Cup ambitions are over and that my dream of playing in that won't come true."

But Monty is determined to turn the experience into a positive and wants to become a role model for the youngsters again. "I can start playing at almost the same time as last season (his first game was against Bridgend on Decem-ber 20)," he said.

"I'm banned from playing, but I want to get involved with the community, with the coaching side of things and teach the younger kids. We'll see where we can go on that.

"I've got to take it on the chin and set an example by being a role model. I've got to say to youngsters 'You can't do this sort of thing.'

"What happened was an instinctive thing. There was a reason for it, but I don't want to go into that."

Gwent coach Mike Ruddock is as relieved as Montgomery at the verdict.

"I feared he would be banned for two years," he admitted. "It seems to be the IRB length of sentence and that troubled me because each situation should be looked at individually.

"It sounded like a player with an excellent record let his standards slip momentarily, but a two-year ban would be wrong.

"A financial penalty is the way to go. A £15,000 fine and a six-month ban meaning he will miss the World Cup is punishment enough.

"But it's good news for Gwent and for the supporters who can come to Rodney Parade and see him again. He has made a good impression, and it's only right he can continue."