EBBW Vale's much-postponed Parker Pen European Shield quarter-final goes ahead at last tonight at Newport's Rodney Parade ground (7.30pm).

And as a gesture of goodwill after a chaotic weekend, season ticket holders of both Ebbw Vale and Newport will be allowed free entry to the ground for the match.

Marcus Russell, chairman of the Ebbw Vale board of directors, makes the gesture after the inconvenience to rugby fans.

"Over the weekend many Ebbw Vale supporters have been traipsing around frozen rugby grounds in South Wales so this game's all-ticket status has been rescinded. All season ticket holders have free entry," he said.

"Newport Rugby Club have also been very accommodating over the weekend and today, and as a gesture of our appreciation tonight's game will have free entry to all Newport season ticket holders."

Ebbw Vale tried desperately hard to stage the match at five separate Welsh venues on Saturday and Sunday - they even made inquiries about Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and as far afield as Oxford - but the match was repeatedly hit by frozen pitches and the cash-strapped club may have to pick up the tab.

With the second leg of the quarter-final to be played in the south of France on Saturday, Ebbw Vale initially appealed to neighbours Abertillery and Tredegar to host the game tonight, but Newport have now stepped in.

After Vale's frozen Eugene Cross Park pitch was deemed unplayable on Saturday morning, Newport's Rodney Parade was examined, but was also frozen and the 2pm kick-off was abandoned.

The match was postponed until yesterday with Llanelli's Stradey Park the favourite venue after special covers were fitted.

But the coldest night of the year meant the Stradey pitch was freezing as the covers were removed.

Both Newport and Llanelli will charge Ebbw Vale for the costs incurred by their ground staff and Pau have had to pay out for two night's extra accomodation - but it is still too early to say whether the ERC or the clubs will meet the bill.

Other pitches considered as potential venues for the game over the weekend included Caerphilly's Virginia Park and Cardiff Arms but both pitches were unplayable despite hosting Saturday games.