NEWENT RFC have announced that discussions with Newent Community School over the possibly of re-homing the club on their grounds have been ’suspended’.

The club had hoped to reach an agreement with the school over potentially developing the playing fields, changing rooms and similar facilities at the school site.

The talks included ’extensive research’ into the proposed development, according to a statement released by club chairman John Moore.

"Newent RFC wishes to announce that it has suspended its discussions with Newent Community School regarding the potential development of the playing fields, changing rooms and other facilities at the school site," the statement read.

"These discussions have been on-going and included extensive research into the format and lay-out of the proposed development.

"Furthermore the parties have been discussing the matter of leasing existing in-use school playing fields and the detailed issues surrounding such arrangements within the existing governmental framework.

"Newent RFC will now turn it’s attention to pursuing other opportunities to improve club facilities."

Moore commented: "I wish to thank the school for taking the time to listen to and consider the proposals tabled by the club.

"However, sometimes matters do not always work out the way we want them to; so we now plan to explore other options for developing the club.

"This remains mine and the committee’s number one priority.

"The club’s existing facilities are archaic and there is an urgent need to have modern changing rooms, improved playing surfaces, better floodlighting and more storage space. These are minimum requirements for our club."