Wales flanker Martyn Williams will lead Cardiff Blues; another Wales flanker Jason Forster is skippering Newport Gwent Dragons and the former Wales hooker Barry Williams heads the Neath-Swansea Ospreys. Ireland international flanker Simon Easterby has been given the captaincy of Llanelli Scarlets for the first time.
In the Premier Division, many clubs have not yet decided on their captain, with Aberavon having lost lock Chris Gittins to Neath; Richard Francis goes from Swansea to Penclawdd and Gareth Gravell from Newport to Coventry.
However, the following players will lead their clubs – No 8 Andrew Williams (Caerphilly); lock Paul Arnold (Carmarthen Quins); flanker Ioan Cunningham (Llanelli); No 8/lock Matthew Veater (Newport); full back/wing Gareth Morris (Neath); flanker Cae Trayhern (Pontypool) and lock Gareth Edwards retains the captaincy with newly-promoted Llanharan.
