The Wizards begin their Premiership Cup campaign tomorrow with a tricky home tie against Llanelli. This competition will be divided into an east and west conference with the top side in each section facing off in a final. And Hyatt is confident his side will be competing at the business end of the competition.
“We’ve got a great squad,” he said. “Jordan Walters has come in on the loosehead who has joined from the Ospreys and Rhys Fawcett has come in from the Scarlets.
“It’s very important for us to have some strength in depth especially in the front-row. Nicky Thomas has also come in from the Ospreys which gives us six top end props.
“Iwan Templett has come in at nine from the Scarlets while Joe Thomas has joined us from Arizona. Jay Baker has also re-joined having come back from travelling in Australia.
“Everyone is capable of producing good rugby in the Premiership and we have to be at our best every week.”
Aberavon will also be inspired by a motivational video from Hollywood star and local hero Michael Sheen who is a friend of the club.
𝗢𝘂𝗿 2021/22 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 with our very own @MichaelSheen.
― 𝘉𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤, 𝘵𝘰𝘰 … pic.twitter.com/XAN5aGN0YB
— Aberavon RFC (@AberavonRFC) September 14, 2021
“Michael comes to a lot of our games and he was there at the final a couple of years ago,” said Hyatt.
“It’s fantastic to have someone so high profile associated with the club. The club is the centre of the community and Michael is a big supporter of that.”
The competition will follow the newly introduced World Rugby experimental laws but following discussions with the National Sporting Group, the WRU’s competition committee and insurers this week, it has been agreed that the WRU’s modified laws, in place for other WRU-organised rugby in Wales as part of the Pathway to Participation, will not be in place for the Indigo Group Premiership Cup with immediate effect.
Another big game in the west conference sees Bridgend face Carmarthen Quins at the Brewery Field. Carmarthen include Wales Under 20s stars and current Scarlets players Kemsley Mathias and Jac Price in their pack, while former Dragons stalwart Nic Cudd is on the bench.
Arguably Bridgend’s most significant signing is former Ospreys outside-half Matthew Jones as player attack coach to work alongside Steve Jones.
“It’s great to be back at Bridgend as it’s my hometown,” said Jones.
“I’ve had experience coaching at Pontypool and Neath, but I jumped at the chance to come to Bridgend. Rugby is the vocal point of this community, so it was really difficult during the covid lockdowns when there was no rugby.
“I think we’ve got a pretty decent squad and with no relegation we’ll be looking to play an expansive brand of rugby to entertain the fans.”
Llandovery also host Swansea at Church Bank with Scarlets squad players Dafydd Hughes, Harri O’Connor, and Angus O’Brien in their ranks. In the east conference Ceri Jones will begin his tenure as RGC1404 head coach with a tough trip to Cardiff. And the former Dragons forwards coach insists he is taking over a sleeping giant.
“RGC is a sleeping giant – a huge area with an increasing number of people participating in rugby,” said Jones.
“When you combine that with the amazing facilities available at Parc Eirias then you are talking about a fully-fledged rugby region in all but name. I’ve had the opportunity to see the players train and there is some great talent on show.
“It’s a young squad and I’ll be aiming to develop them and strengthening the pathway so that more players can come through the academy programme and go on to represent RGC, Wales age grade teams and the Wales national team.”
Elsewhere in the Premiership Cup tournament favourites Merthyr play Greg Woods’ Ebbw Vale at the Wern, while Newport travel to Sardis Road to face Pontypridd.
In the Championship Cup Ystrad Rhondda will progress to the knockout stages if they beat Lee Jarvis’ Beddau, while Cardiff Met take on Glamorgan Wanderers. Neath take on Tata Steel while Trebanos face Narberth and Bedwas clash with Bargoed.
