Report by our man in San Antonio, Steve Bennett.
San Antonio v Newport
Sunday 25th May 2025 at the Mission Concepcion Sporting Complex
Newport travelled to Texas, U.S.A. to wind up a very successful and enjoyable 150th season.
Only three days after winning the Super Rugby Cymru.
The squad including supporters flew out to Austin where they stayed for four nights before moving onto San Antonio for the match. During Newport’s stay the temperatures had not dropped below 96 degrees.
During their stay both players and supporters had taken full advantage of the many lakes, rivers, springs and old-fashioned Lido’s where the local population take refuge from the searing heat.
The previous day’s temperature was 100 degrees which prompted the back-room staff and players to question the wisdom of playing 80 minutes. With the hosts’ consent, three twenty-minute periods were agreed upon, with water breaks. The host club who were founded in 1972, play outside of San Antonio.
The Newport team travelled straight from Austin to the San Antonio ground. The Newport players had to change on the team bus because had no changing rooms or clubhouse. Clubs such as San Antonio really do struggle to survive against more traditional American sports, In Austin only a short drive away in the vast distances of the ‘Lone Star’ State the University’s American Football team has a 108,000 all seater stadia.
Before the game commenced the local referee deemed the club’s first team pitch unplayable, due to the hardness of the playing surface, and combined with a lack of grass and stones strewn over the playing surface. The Newport team arrived only 40 minutes prior to kick off and were informed that the game was to be played on San Antonio’s training pitch which was just marginally in better condition.
Although the game was given the go ahead there was one problem – no goalposts.
It was decided to play the game with tries only. This is not an uncommon occurrence.
The San Antonio side was bolstered by outside players – a few Argentinians, U.S Marines and players from other Texas clubs.
Although their backs had some pace when put into space they were lacking in the basics when it came to scrums especially.
The game was played in the right spirit and with rolling substitutions players only played in ten-minute bursts. The game opened up, resembling a game of sevens as players assumed various positions.
When the Newport players did recycle the ball quickly and switched the point of attack the home side struggled badly.
An entertaining game despite the circumstances provided great entertainment for the home supporters who cheered every home try as though they were winning ones.
Newport: 15, Dai Buckland, 14, Iestyn Galton, 13, Dai Richards, 12, Chay Foster Smith, 11, Harri Lang, 10, Carwyn Penny, 9, Luke Crane, 1, Harry Fry, 2, Tyler Olding. 3, Garin Harris, 4, George Young, 5, Josh Skinner, 6, Tom Rice, 8, Ben Roach (c), 7, Josh Reid.
Newport only fielded three replacements – Rhys Jenkins, Nathen Evans, Matt O’Brien
The match finished 65-30 to the black & ambers – Newport’s try scorers D. Buckland (2), H. Lang (2),
- Fry, I. Galton, N. Evans, L. Crane (2), C. Foster Smith, T. Olding, C. Penney and Matt O’Brien.