But even though the competitions, teams and playing kits change, Evans never loses sight of the task immediately facing any of his teams. And he knows that a trip to Parc Eirias to take on RGC 1404 is as tough a task as there is in the Principality Premiership.
The Gogs won twice at home in this fixture last season, once in the WRU National Cup, and currently trail the Drovers by two points after seven matches in the West Division. Their big incentive is to win and go top.
“It is a difficult game for us this weekend, we are fully aware of that. But we know that if we can win it will put us in a strong position to finish at the top of the table at the end of the first half of the season,” said Evans.
“We have some good home games to come after this trip and we are looking to make a statement to the other teams before we kick off the second block of fixtures. RGC beat us twice last year, they are well coached and they have a good group of players.”
Evans has switched Wales Under 18 full back to the wing and have restored Jack Maynard and Lee Rees to the half-back position. Lewis has made a big impression since returning from South Africa with the national team in August and Evans believes he has a big future in the game.
“He’s got that X-Factor that we haven’t seen for a long time in Wales. He has settled in at this level and didn’t look out of place in the Scarlets Premiership Select B&I Cup squad either,” said Evans.
RGC 1404 have scrum half Alex Schwarz and hooker Evan Yardley back in harness after they appeared for the Scarlets side in the B&I Cup.
Matt Dodd, Fenton Holder, Emyr Williams, Josh Guy and Gareth Walters are all due to start a match for Swansea for the first time this season when they host Neath at St Helen’s. Liam Smith will make his Swansea debut of the bench if he comes on.
Mike Evans returns as the only change behind the scrum from the last game for the visitors. Gavin Evans continues to lead the Neath side in the absence of Jordan Collier, who is making good progress in his recovery from a broken leg.
“It will be nice to get back into action after the break and we need to get back on track without delay. We suffered a few injuries in the first block and it is good to have players returning,” said Neath coach Gareth Llewellyn
Aberavon will be hoping to complete the double over Bridgend when they head to the Brewery Filed having won the opening clash in September by 40-15. The Wizards are currently in fourth place in the table, six points behind Llandovery.
The Llanelli players will come up against some familiar faces when they head to Carmarthen Park as the Quins have Scarlets stars Tom Prydie and Dan Jones and former player Aled Thomas in starting XV.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP WEST DIVISION – ROUND 8
Bridgend v Aberavon
Carmarthen Quins v Llanelli
RGC 1404 v Llandovery
Swansea v Neath
WEST TEAMS
Bridgend v Aberavon
Bridgend: Tyler Williams; Aaron Grabham, Joe Gatt, Jamie Murphy, Mike Powell; Ryan Evans, Harri Morgan; Owen Jordan, Iestyn Merriman, Garyn Daniel, Jack Pope, Kieran Martin, Matthew John, Zac O’Driscoll (captain), Ashton Evans
Reps: Owen Thomas, Ollie Evans, Luke Turton, Chris John, Adam O’Driscoll, Will Baird, Cai Evans, Morgan Jones
Aberavon: Chris Banfield; Shaun Pearce, Will Price, Rheon James, Jay Baker; James Garland (captain), Jacob Flynn; Jordan Walters, Luke Davies, Jon Thomas, Ben Thomas, Ben Jones, Lee Purnell, Luke Joseph, Joe Tomalin-Reeves
Reps: Liam Popham, Steffen Williams, David Pritchard, Ieuan Davies, Ben Davies, Rhys Forse, Mike Burgess, Craig Price
Carmarthen Quins v Llanelli
Carmarthen Quins: Aled Thomas; Dale Ford, Nic Reynolds, Jack Price, Tom Prydie; Dan Jones, Ifan Beynon-Thomas; Gethin Robinson, Torin Myhill, Javan Sebastian, Josh Helps, Haydn Pugh (captain),
Lewis Millin, Shaun Evans, Lee Taylor
Reps: Nathan Williams, Rhodri Clancy, Steffan Thomas, Shaun Jones, Ellis Lloyd, Aaron Hemmings, Steffan Marshall, Morgan Griffiths
Llanelli: Jake Newman; Ioan Nicholas, Steffan Hughes, Matthew Jenkins, Ryan Conbeer; Ioan Hughes, Declan Smith; Dylan Phillips, Craig Thomas, Ben Leung, Christian Long, Bryce Morgan, Ellis Thomas, Lloyd Pike (captain), Nathan Hart
Reps: Ben Edwards, Rhys Thomas, Tom Kaijaks, Ashleigh Hyndman, Daniel Davis, Gareth George, Lewis Williams, Tom Rogers
RGC 1404 v Llandovery
RGC 1404: Dion Jones; Harri Evans, Tom Hughes, Tiaan Loots, Afon Bagshaw; Jacob Botica, Alex Schwarz; Joe Simpson, Evan Yardley, Sam Wainwright, Maredydd Francis (captain), Andrew Williams, Will Bryan, Dan Owen, Tim Grey
Reps: Rhys Williams, Curtis Reynolds, Jordan Scott, Robin Williams, Bryn Edwards, Efan Jones, Danny Cross, Aron Evans
Llandovery: Rhys Jones; Lee Williams, Rhodri Wall, Rhodri Jones, Tomi Lewis; Jack Maynard, Lee Rees; Berinan Watkins, Dafydd Hughes, Scott Jenkins, Jack Jones, Joe Powell, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Shaun Miles, Richard Brooks (captain) Emyr Price
Reps: Llyr Green, Dean Howells, Bryn Griffiths, Emyr Price, Matthew Moore, Scott Maynard, Aaron Warren, Kris Jones
Swansea v Neath
Swansea: Gareth Walters; Andrew Claypole, Jedd Evans, Rnys Williams (captain) Owen Howe; Phil Jones, Josh Guy; Jack Powell, Paul John, Fenton Holder, Adam Thresher, Matt Dodd , Jay Williams, Emyr Williams, Morgan Morris
Reps: Tom Ball, Lewys Bullock, Chris Thomas, Jon Fox, Jon Vaughan, Rhodri Wells, James Davies, Liam Smith
Neath: Ed Howley; James Roberts, Richard Smith, Matthew Pearce, Mike Evans; Gavin Evans (captain), Scott Gibson; Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Geraint James, Ryan Bean, Jon Barley, Josh Cole, Charlie Davies, Leon Ward
Reps: Liam Tobias, Dewi Lake, Ryan Thomas, Matthew Davies, Ellis Hopkins, Chris Morgans, Iwan Evans, Alec Jenkins
