GWENT will hope to celebrate what could be one of the most significant days in Wales’ sporting history today.

Wales’ football squad will qualify for Euro 2016 - its first major tournament since 1958 - if they draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica tonight.

While its rugby team could finish top of Pool A and qualify for the Rugby World Cup’s quarter finals with a win versus Australia this afternoon at Twickenham.

Big screens will show the Wales matches at the first Newport Beer and Cider Festival at Rodney Parade, which started yesterday.

Organisers are expecting over 1,000 people to attend the event at which 16 stalls serving booze will be available. Stallholders include Newport’s Tiny Rebel Brewery and Caldicot-based Castles Brewery.

The Lamb in Newport is holding a curry night for the first time, with every customer getting a dish free with their drink.

T Magama, duty manager at the pub, said the Rugby World Cup has brought an increase in footfall with a variety of nationalities coming into the pub to watch the games on the big screen.

He said: “It really depends on who’s playing. It was rammed for the Wales/England game and everyone in the pub was Welsh bar one English guy in the corner.

“We had a few Japanese customers for the Japan game which was fantastic. We get lots of people coming in."

Chairman of Pontypool Town FC Patrick Kearns will be watching his own club play first in matches, which have been moved forward to 2pm especially for the day of sport. After the football matches, the club’s two squads will return to their headquarters at the Bell Inn in the town at 4.15pm, half an hour before the rugby match starts.

Mr Kearns said of the football match yesterday: “I think we will win with the way the team has been playing at the moment – and they are in the top ten in the world."

Iftekhar Haris, who owns four nightspots in Newport, will be giving out wristbands that will give free entry into Blind Tiger, NP21 and Warehouse 54. There will also be a rolling happy hour at The Courtyard until 9pm.

He said yesterday: “It’s going to be packed out. We’ve got a screen out on the garden [in Courtyard] where people can sit outside.

“We don’t need any more entertainment to add to it. It’s a huge day of sport.

“It’s the first time there’s a real good feel about Welsh sport.”

In Chepstow the Coach and Horses on Welsh Street will be showing the rugby match.

Keen rugby player and Wales Secretary Stephen Crabb said he hopes everyone in the country will back its sporting stars: “We can be rightly proud of what these players have achieved. Welsh success at the highest level can do so much to inspire our younger generations to work hard to reach their goals.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the nation join together, to rally behind our national teams in what is set to be an exhilarating day of competition.”