NEWBRIDGE Rugby Club remain confident their proposed new £2m-£3m ground and facilities will be in place on time for 2004.

Chairman Idris McCarthy said the development on land above their current Welfare Ground site was expected to start in the near future, but plans had not been completely finalised.

This was because they form part of a £14m+ larger redevelopment for the Town incorporating a housing redevelopment and rail link (from Newport to Ebbw Vale).

"There are still meetings to be held as some parts of the redevelopment plans have had to be changed and there are some other ongoing matters to be resolved," said McCarthy. "But it is still very much on the go and our ground and facilities should be in place by 2004 or very much close to it.

"All funds have been applied for, those involving European objective one funding, the Welsh Development Association, Sportslot etc."

The rugby redevelopment will include a new ground, clubhouse and changing facilities, a floodlit training area and possible indoor training facility, 3,000-seater stand, car park and other pitches to accommodate the nine various teams the club run.

"Some of these plans have still to be completed and we will be looking at other grounds around the country and talking to the developers to see what ideas can be incorporated," said McCarthy.

"We hope to get started within the next 6-9 months and hope to be playing on the new ground the season after next."

l Newbridge United rugby club will hold their annual end of season social event this Friday evening.

A game involving players both past and present at the Welfare Ground will kick-off procedings at 6.30pm, with a social event taking place in the clubhouse afterwards. l Llanelli captain Scott Quinnell has vowed that his Scarlets will take it one step at a time in their pursuit of an unprecedented trophy treble.

Apart from Sunday's Heineken Cup semi-final showdown with holders Leicester, Llanelli are currently on top of the Welsh-Scottish League and have a Principality Cup final appointment with Pontypridd on their schedule next month.

The domestic double looks to be well within Llanelli's reach, although conquering Europe remains a formidable task.

"The Heineken Cup is the biggest trophy out there that is available to us, and there is nothing more motivational than that," Quinnell said.

"We haven't won the domestic league for a few years now, so to let ourselves down in that at this stage of the season would be poor on our part."