PROUD -- that is what Welsh rugby can feel today after a weekend in which three of the four Welsh regions beat English Premiership teams in the first round of the revamped Powergen Cup.

Newport Gwent Dragons got the ball rolling at Rodney Parade on Friday night with a 24-15 victory over Leicester, as stunning as it was unexpected.

Cardiff Blues took over on Saturday when they comfortably defeated Saracens 37-20 and Llanelli Scarlets took up the challenge yesterday by thrashing Leeds 28-7 at Headingley.

Only the Ospreys came unstuck when they lost 23-7 at Gloucester, though they were without a number of leading players through injury including all three of their British Lions.

And the Blues signed Jonah Lomu, a player about whom the word legend really does apply, in a move which grabbed sporting headlines around the world.

It was such a coup and Welsh rugby fans were so dumbstruck that Blues chief executive Robert Noster had to confirm it really was Jonah Lomu not Joanna Lumley.

Lomu arrives in mid-November for the rest of the season, makes his debut in early December and could be in the Christmas fixture against the Dragons at the Arms Park to ensure a full house.

Dragons coach Paul Turner enthused about his own side's efforts, "The boys can feel quite proud at what they achieved given that they were written off, there's certainly a spring in their step."

Attentions quickly turn to Saturday night's game at Northampton who won 22-7 at Worcester, Turner wary of their star backs. "With a backline including Bruce Reihana, Ben Cohen, Carlos Spencer, Sean Lamont, David Quinlan and Mark Robinson (ex-All Black) they can rip teams to shreds, I hope it's not us," he said.

"It'll be difficult because top European sides like Toulouse and Biarritz have lost there. We'll have to dig deep and perform to the best of our ability."

l Wales coach Mike Ruddock suffered another blow when outside half Stephen Jones damaged ankle ligaments at the weekend and could miss the November internationals along with Gavin Henson and Gethin Jenkins.