Newport Gwent Dragons' 18-10 win over the Ospreys saw them qualify for the Heineken Cup after a change in rules.

Previously, the last Heineken spot has been decided by a play-off between the third-placed Italian Super 10 club and a non-qualified Magners League team.

But the Italian Rugby Federation is unable to nominate a team for the date designated for the play-offs.

The Dragons' win in Newport left bottom Irish side Connacht unable to overtake them in the Heineken Cup race.

Dragons director of rugby Paul Turner said: "It's good news. The season would have gone on into June if we had the play-offs."

Cardiff Blues, Llanelli Scarlets and the Ospreys had already qualified for the Heineken Cup as Wales' representatives, as the trio will finish higher in the Magners League than the Dragons.

Connacht, the league's bottom club, were outstripped by Leinster, Munster and Ulster in Ireland's pecking order.

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Just a point from that match or their final encounter of the season against Leinster on Friday would have been enough.

European Rugby Cup announced the qualification change on Tuesday, having learnt that the second leg of the Italian championship semi-finals will be played on Saturday, 31 May - the weekend designated for the Heineken play-off match.

That date had been scheduled in advance of the start of the season, so with the Italian sides unable to fulfil that fixture the ERC board decided to award the place to the Magners League.

Italy will now have just two representatives in the Heineken Cup next season.

The news will also boost Wales coach Warren Gatland, as having the Dragons involved in an end-of-season play-off could have hampered his preparations to tour South Africa.

Wales face the Springboks in the first Test on 7 June in Bloemfontein, just a week after the date that had been set aside for the Heineken play-off.