Veteran hooker Sion Crocker committed himself to a seventh season at the club at the end of the last campaign, but vying for the No 2 jersey with him from September will be his nephew Jake Lewis.
The 24-year-old Lewis played on permit for the Welsh All Blacks in the 2016/17 season, but has now signed on full time. His previous experience has been at Tondu and Tata Steel and he has no doubt picked up a few tips along the way from ‘Uncle Sion’, who has 153 games for Neath under his belt and was vice-captain at the club last season.
Lewis is one of a number of former Tata Steel players who have committed their future to Neath as they seek to re-establish themselves in the new-look, 14 team Championship.
Back-row duo David Griggs and Scott Malone, who was the Tata skipper last season, are both heading full-time to The Gnoll.
Outside-half Dan Guarneri also played at Tata last season, but has opted to return to Neath, where he will be joined by former Swansea utility back Luke Griffiths. Having started his career at Kenfig Hill, the 23-year-old Griffiths switched to Trebanos before joining the Whites.
Another returnee behind the scrum is centre Matthew Pearce who missed last season as he was completing his degree at Bristol University. He will have another midfield recruit to battle with for a starting berth in Ben Atkins, who has joined from Seven Sisters.
A Neath College product, Atkins played for Neath as a teenager and also spent time at Llanelli. He has 20 Premiership games under his belt while Pearce has more than 50 on his CV.
There are also two notable front row recruits in Liam Tobias, who returns to The Gnoll after a brief spell at Llanelli and Gareth Wyn Lloyd, who joins full time from Nantgaredig after making a couple of permit appearances for Neath last season.
There will be two big warm-up fixtures for the players before the competitive season starts with ex-Neath and Ospreys prop Cai Griffiths bringing his London Welsh side to The Gnoll on August 17. Swansea will then visit on Thursday, August 29.
The Championship campaign kicks-off at Trebanos on September 7 and the two teams will meet again a week later at The Gnoll in the first round of the Specsavers National Cup.
