NEWPORT have suffered another blow with the loss of scrum-half Ofisa Tonu'u for the rest of the season.

He is having an operation on Friday for damaged knee ligaments suffered in the Neath game last Wednesday.

That means he is out of Newport's final four matches against Cardiff on Friday, Glasgow, Pontypridd and Bridgend.

It is a massive blow for Newport because Tonu'u's devastating running has been an essential part of the progress they made this season until their dramatic fall from grace.

Tonu'u's absence, coupled with the loss of Dale Burn with a broken ankle, means Newport will have to utilise Llyr Lane for the final four matches.

If he had got injured at Swansea on Saturday, Andy Marinos would have switched there. Swansea, meanwhile, are examining tapes of the match with the possibility of citing flanker Jason Forster.

The Newport openside allegedly punched young Swansea replacement lock Jonathan Thomas in the closing minutes in an off-the-ball incident.

Swansea team manager Richard Moriarty says they are aware of the incident and will decide whether to take any action.

The race for the league title is really hotting up with Newport's demise and Neath's late run, and it is a four-team race with Swansea also having a say and Pontypridd guaranteed a Heineken Cup place if they win the European Shield.