Rodney Parade - Home of Dragons RFC, Newport

Rodney Parade is one of the most historic sports venues in the United Kingdom — the home of Dragons RFC (one of the four professional Welsh rugby regions) since 2003, plus Newport RFC and EFL League Two side Newport County A.F.C. since 2012. Located on the east bank of the River Usk in Newport city centre, the stadium opened in 1877 and is the second-oldest sports venue still used in the English Football League, behind only Deepdale in Preston. The 8,700-capacity ground (reduced to 7,850 for football matches) features two main covered stands along the touchlines — the two-tier Compeed Stand (West, 1,996 seats + standing terrace) and the all-seater Bisley Stand (East, 2,526 seats including 13 hospitality boxes opened October 2011). The North Terrace and West Touchline Terrace are uncovered standing areas. The pitch was upgraded in 2017 to a PlayMaster hybrid grass surface to handle the wear of two professional rugby teams and a football club playing throughout the year. The stadium was owned by the Welsh Rugby Union from 2017 until 2023, when a private consortium purchased both Rodney Parade and the Dragons region from the WRU. The all-time record attendance of 31,000 was set on 10 January 1952 when Newport RFC hosted South Africa — capacity has since been reduced for modern safety standards.

Rodney Parade was opened in 1877 — two years after the founding of Newport Athletic Club — after the land was secured from Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar. The original ground hosted cricket, tennis, athletics and rugby. In October 1879, Rodney Parade made history as the first ground in Wales to install floodlights, with Newport RFC playing Cardiff RFC in a famous floodlit rugby match. Newport RFC enjoyed six consecutive unbeaten seasons in the late 19th century, cementing the ground's reputation as a fortress. Rodney Parade hosted six full Wales rugby internationals between 1884 and 1912, and witnessed Newport RFC's legendary 3-0 victory over the touring New Zealand All Blacks. Other international touring sides to have graced Rodney Parade include the 1924 All Blacks and the 1960 Springboks. Monmouthshire County Cricket Club played at Rodney Parade from 1901 to 1934, with the cricket ground located to the south of the rugby pitch (replaced by Maindee Primary School in 1993). Following the regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003, the Dragons regional team was formed and made Rodney Parade their home, sharing the ground with Newport RFC. In May 2012, Newport County A.F.C. relocated from Newport Stadium to make Rodney Parade their home — the first time the ground had hosted association football on a regular basis. The Bisley Stand opened in October 2011 as the new east stand. In 2017, Newport RFC shareholders agreed to sell the ground to the Welsh Rugby Union, with a new PlayMaster hybrid grass pitch installed to cope with the demands of three professional teams. Newport RFC relocated to Newport Stadium in 2021. In 2023, a private consortium purchased Rodney Parade and the Dragons region from the WRU, returning the stadium to private ownership.

Rodney Parade has one of the most atmospheric matchday experiences in the URC despite its modest 8,700 capacity. The compact, traditional ground places fans extremely close to the action, with the iconic uncovered North Terrace housing the most passionate Dragons supporters singing throughout the match. The famous Bisley Stand opposite generates impressive acoustics with its high cantilever roof. Famous Welsh rugby singing of "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" and "Sosban Fach" echoes around the ground on big derby fixtures against Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets. The dual identity of the stadium — sharing matchdays between rugby and football — gives Rodney Parade a unique multi-sport character that few URC grounds can match, and the famous "Exiles" Newport County crowds bring their own colour to non-rugby weekends.

Rodney Parade does not currently offer a regularly scheduled public stadium tour programme due to the heavy daily use of the ground by three professional teams (Dragons RFC, Newport RFC, and Newport County A.F.C.). Bespoke group tours can be arranged by appointment for schools, corporate clients, and supporter groups via the Dragons RFC commercial team. The 60-minute experience typically includes the historic 1877-vintage ground, the modern Bisley Stand (2011) and traditional Compeed Stand, the Brecon Lounge and Rodney Hall clubhouse facilities, the home dressing room, the famous players' tunnel, and pitchside access on the PlayMaster hybrid grass surface. Contact dragonsrugby.wales or call +44 1633 670690 to enquire.

Rodney Parade does not feature a dedicated permanent museum, but the ground itself is a living monument to over 145 years of Welsh rugby history. Heritage displays and photographs are exhibited throughout the Bisley Stand, Compeed Stand, and clubhouse celebrating key moments in the ground's past: the first floodlit rugby match in Wales (Newport RFC v Cardiff RFC, October 1879); the six full Wales rugby internationals hosted between 1884 and 1912; Newport RFC's legendary 3-0 victory over the touring New Zealand All Blacks; the touring sides who graced the ground including the 1924 All Blacks and 1960 Springboks; and the formation of the Dragons region in 2003. The Brecon Lounge clubhouse holds memorabilia from across Newport rugby's long history.