NEWPORT are expecting an incredible five-figure crowd for tomorrow's match against Uruguay at Rodney Parade, writes Robin Davey.

Over 4,000 tickets have been sold and with more than 4,000 members expected to take up their tickets there could well be a 10,000 crowd.

That would be half the number likely at today's Wales-Tonga internationals, and probably more than any crowd in the English Zurich Premiership, with Leicester, who draw the biggest crowd, playing at Sale.

It represents a staggering act of faith by Newport fans considering that few first team regulars are playing and that Uruguay are hardly a top flight rugby nation.

But it is the first touring game at Rodney Parade since 1989, and Newport supporters have been queuing up for tickets.

Club owner Tony Brown is thrilled at the response. "There is going to be a huge family atmosphere and it should be a tremendous occasion," he said.

Because of the demand for tickets for the match the club has extended the deadline for the schools "Who let the dogs out?" promotional offer.

It means that schoolchildren who received one of the special ticket vouchers will have until 5.30pm on Saturday to exchange them for two tickets (one child, one adult) at the Newport rugby ticket office.

Anyone visiting Rodney Parade today will be able to watch the international matches between Ireland and New Zealand, followed by Wales against Tonga, on the big screen in the Rodney Hall.

In the past, Newport have played the All Blacks, Springboks, Wallabies, Maoris, Tongans and Fijians, but the game against the Uruguayans will break new ground for Welsh rugby as Los Teros make their first trip to this country.

Newport's success in winning the Principality Cup last season earned them the right to tackle the tourists who reached the Rugby World Cup finals in 1999 where they beat Spain and gave an excellent account of themselves against South Africa.

Tickets for the game are available from the Newport rugby ticket hotline - 01633 674990 - priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children. The family village will open at 1pm with the usual range of attractions.

Newport team: Matt Pini, Matt Mostyn, Hal Luscombe, Jon Pritchard, Martyn Llewellyn, Jason Strange, Dale Burn, Ceri Jones, Paul Young, Adrian Garvey (captain), Gareth Taylor, Dell Cross, Peter Buxton, Gareth Gravell, Joe Powell. Replacements: Rod Snow, James Richards, Ryan Jones, Scott Williams, Sam Waldron, Shane Howarth, Ofisa Tonu'u.