Connacht were denied a surprise, albeit remote, possibility of a berth in next year's Heineken Cup after Newport Gwent Dragons tonight beat Ospreys at Rodney Parade.

Connacht's opportunity emerged hours before tonight's kick-off after the Italian rugby federation decided not to send a team to contest the play-off for the tournament's 24th place.

The final position has for the last three seasons been decided by a play-off between the highest non-qualifying Magners League team and the third placed Italian Super 10 club.

But the date for the play-off - Saturday May 31st - clashed with the second leg of the Italian championship semi-finals and the Federazione Italiana Rugby were forced to confirm it was unable to nominate a team for the match.

The ERC said in a statement this afternoon: "Having received confirmation from the Celtic Unions that their teams would be available to play, and having noted that the weekend for the play-off match had been scheduled in advance of the start of the season, the Board of ERC resolved that the place will be awarded to the qualifying team from the Magners League."

That left open the unlikely possibility of Connacht grabbing the 24th position. They needed to win their last game of the league against Ospreys on Friday and gain a bonus point. But they would still have needed the Dragons - who were five points ahead going into to tonight's match - to lose their remaining two games, the last of which is against Leinster on Friday.

However, internationals Colin Charvis, Ceri Sweeney and Kevin Morgan were among the scorers tonight in an 18-10 win over their feloow Welshmen, Ospreys.