[James]

Here's someone else hoping to make it into 'the house'. If he really is down to the last few hundred he's a bit silly talking to the press about it though.

Dragons' star aims for Big Brother

IN THE LIMELIGHT: Shawn Van Rensburg

GWENT rugby player Shawn Van Rensburg wants to temporarily swap the changing- rooms at Rodney Parade for the diary room in the Big Brother house.

Newport Gwent Dragons star Shawn, 28, has got down to the last couple of hundred for the Channel 4 reality TV programme.

And he says he wanted to try out for Big Brother 5 to give himself a new challenge.

But Shawn stresses he won't be giving up rugby for a TV career - he aims to fit the experience into his summer break from his sport.

The Dragons back-row forward, originally from South Africa, and who now lives in Bridgend, says if he gets through to the final line-up he would join the housemates instead of going home to visit his parents during the summer.

He said: "I decided to go for Big Brother, and so far I have got through a few rounds and I think I am now down to the last couple of hundred people.

"I just have to wait now for a couple of weeks to find out if I will be one of the final 12 they pick.

"I have seen it on TV lots of times, and thought I would love to give it a chance."

Shawn is single, and says that if he went into the house other career offers would be interesting - but he would never give up his sport.

He plans to finish this season, go into the house, carry on training and start the new season after he comes out - or gets evicted.

He said: "I will have to do push-ups and sit-ups in there, there will be something."

Shawn has been through a round of talking on camera in the diary room, filled in forms about his life, and now he is waiting to hear if the application process has been a success.

He says: "Even if I don't make it I have enjoyed it. I would love to make it but I wouldn't pin any hopes on it.

"If I got in there I would miss speaking to my friends, I would miss all the news and miss speaking to my parents.

"I would like to make it, but if not I will go home and have a great time back home."

The first Big Brother saw Craig Phillips take the money and title, and he then started to work on DIY TV programmes.

The second Big Brother saw Helen Adams, from Cwmbran, fight it out with Brian Dowling, with Brian taking the money and Helen finding love with Paul Adams. Kate Lawler won Big Brother 3 and has since presented on TV and radio.

Big Brother 4 saw Cameron Stout leave the house victorious, and winner of £70,000.

http://www.thisisgwent.co.uk/gwent/news/NEWS2.html