Newport Rugby Club, one of the most successful rugby clubs in history, began as a collection of tiny sports clubs. The cricketers came first.
The earliest record of a cricket match played by Newport club is in The Merlin for July 1836, when Newport played Pontypool and were beaten.
This state-of-the-art stadium started life in the 1800s. Part of Oliver's Nursery – a patch of land for plant growing - between Rodney Parade and Rope Walk was levelled and named Newport Athletic Ground.
The popularity and strength of Newport rugby led to the growth of the club and its grounds.
Two hundred years after its start, the stadium is undergoing a £40 million regeneration.