The Welsh All Blacks have long enjoyed a good relationship with the Broadacre side and Gnoll fans will recall many keen battles when Dunvant first stepped up to the old Premier League – not least the shock win they earned at The Gnoll in season 1996/97.
Neath’s leading try scorer David Evans who has been included in the Wales Sevens squad is a Dunvant product and the All Blacks have named an interesting-looking squad that includes five young players on permit.
Bryncoch pair Gavin Jones and Richard Smith, Neath Athletic’s Liam Grice and Ammanford’s Dylan Cooper played and impressed in Neath’s last friendly, the 57-14 victory over centenary-celebrating Corus, and they are joined by Shaun Miles, also of Ammanford.
Emerging half-backs Matthew Jarvis and Tavis Knoyle, threequarters Kristian Phillips and Liam Powell and lock Ciaran Ruddock could not be considered as they are on Ospreys Under-20’s duty.
Director of Rugby Rowland Phillips, said: “After last Saturday’s win over Swansea, we are pleased to visit Dunvant. It gives us the opportunity to get much-needed game-play and to take a look at some squad options. After winning four successive League titles, we know that we must build for the future and we are looking to games like this as part of that development.”
“It also underlines our firm belief that as a Premier club we have a duty to those clubs who assist us with players and have invested time and effort in their development. Any such clubs needing a similar fixture should contact Mike Price, our secretary, and we’ll do our best to assist.”
“Although Dunvant started poorly in Division One their new coaching team, like ourselves, are thinking positively and we expect a sound test of our credentials. Hopefully, those of our supporters who complain about the lack of midweek rugby will make the short trip to Dunvant who had a good Cup win against Loughor on Saturday.”
Neath v Dunvant (Away)
From : G.King, G.Jones, R.Smith, M.Nuthall, G.James, K.James, D.Lockyer, D.Evans, M.James, K.Farrell; M.Jones, L.Grice, D.Cooper, N.Downs, A.Littlehales, A.Howell, P.Jones, J.Richards, E.Evans, H.Pugh, N.Edwards; L.Evans, J.Bowd, G.Gravell, S.Miles, J.Merriman
