Rob Cole (Westage Sports Agency)
Cardiff have clung on to key man Morgan Allen, and will once again have the Cardiff Rugby Academy to build their team around, and Merthyr have picked up a gem in ex-Dragons flanker Ben Fry.
Everywhere you look, each of the 13 clubs in the Indigo Prem have bolstered their squads, have worked harder than ever before in the summer and look ready to explode into action. So, who can take the title off Euros Evans’ Drovers?
With new Canadian international Sion Parry ready to show what he learned playing against the Tongans in the summer in their back row, ex-Wales U20 captain and Cardiff Blues stalwart Macauley Cook in the second row and a host of new signings behind the scrum, Ponty look set for a much-improved season. Sardis Road might just return to its old status of being a ‘House of Pain’.
They were down among the dead men in the league last season, along with Swansea, Bridgend and Carmarthen Quins, but none of them will be easy beats this winter. Bradley Davies has joined Tom Smith’s coaching team at the Brewery Field and is even threatening to put his boots on and turn out for Bridgend. That would certainly pep up their pack!
In the west, Carmarthen Quins will be much better prepared for the new season than they were last, when they saw some big-name players retire, and a number of influential characters miss long periods through injury. By the end of the season, new coach Marc Jones had his side playing much better and they are hoping to hit the ground running in his second season in charge – starting with a home shot at the champions, Llandovery.
‘Paddy the Baddy’ McBride has taken over as the Merthyr captain from Craig Locke and intends to keep standards high and try to expand his side’s game. Head coach Rowland Phillips made a huge impact on their defensive capabilities and Gareth Davies will be hoping to build on the offensive side of their game.
There are so many good coaches in the competition and Steve Law will be hoping to keep his Cardiff side at the top of the tree once again. All the signs are that it will be a greater struggle for him this time round because a lack of numbers, but he is the most experienced coach in the division.
Jason Strange led his Ebbw Vale side to a fifth-place finish last winter having affected an almost compete turn-around in playing personnel. It will be interesting how he can evolve his side’s style this season.
Team GB sevens star Morgan Williams will be available to Aberavon for the first couple of months of the season and will provide some extra thrust on the wing. Rhys Thomas, the former Wales U20 lock who has returned from Coventry, could be the front five catalyst they need to ensure they don’t drop off this season as they did last after winning their opening six matches.
New boys Pontypool and Neath will both be highly competitive, as their histories will demand, with Pooler’s new back row addition Ben Moa likely to grab a few headlines along the way. RGC have recruited the former Dragons back row man Huw Taylor, but they have lost some top talent. It looks like being a tough season for Ceri Jones’ men.
The most exciting team to watch could be Swansea if the Ospreys give their extensive U20 contingent of Tom Florence, Harri Houston, Llien Morgan, Dan Edwards, Ellis Fackrell, Louis Fletcher, Kian Hire, Lewis Lloyd, Liam Edwards, Evan Hill and Morgan Morse a chance to develop their games and shine.
IOAN DYER (GTFM RADIO)
Is it that time of year already? Time to do the impossible and predict the winners of this year’s Indigo Premiership which begins this weekend.
Congratulations to last year’s winners Llandovery who ended up top of the table after being there or thereabouts all season. A settled squad with a mixture of experience and youth plus speed to burn at times made them deserved champions and saw them overwhelm Cardiff at the Arms Park in the play-off final.
Fast forward a few months and you can’t rule out Llandovery winning the title again. A few players have retired, one or two departures and a few additions means it will be more or less as you were at Church Bank this season and if it ain`t broke there is no need to fix it. Speaking with their head coach Euros Evans recently, he’s relishing the task of being defending champions as it`s something that they`ve never experienced before and he is very much looking forward to the season ahead. His plan is quite simple, to play the same way this year as last year!
In terms of challengers, the likes of Newport, Merthyr, RGC and Cardiff won`t be far away. I’d also mention Bridgend as they impressed towards the end of last season, and have made some signings over the summer, including Alfie Llewellyn, the brother of recently Welsh capped Max Llewellyn.
Pontypridd have made some quality signings as well, with Garyn Smith and Macauley Cook set to bring a wealth of experience to Sardis Road. And then, the return of two famous names in Welsh rugby; Pontypool will be desperate to do well and to surprise a few people while Neath will be a handful for a few teams this season.
Keep an eye out on Aberavon this season, they’ve made a few signings including the likes of Ben Gregory and Ellis Major, while Joe Gage steps up as club captain on a permanent basis this season.
Ebbw Vale have made a few additions to the squad this year, Rory Harries has moved from Sardis Road to Euguene Cross Park over the summer so keep an eye on him as he has plenty of pace to burn.
Finally out west to Carmarthen and the Quins seemed to have kept a settled squad, though the stand out addition is Tom Phillips who was made club captain.
Graeme Gillespie
WRU Website Editor
We say it every year, but this season has the hallmarks of being one of the best for quite some time.
Not only will teams have one eye on reaching the play-offs at the end of the season, but they will all be putting down a marker for next season when the new Elite Domestic Competition comes into play.
It will be interesting to see how promoted duo Pontypool and Neath take to the Prem. For so long they have been banging on the door and finally they get an opportunity to show their mettle.
Pontypool have a host of Wales U20s in their ranks to go alongside some hardy perpetrators who know the dark arts particularly well, but just how big a step up is it from the Championship to the Premiership? We’ll all soon find out over the coming months.
With quite a lot of young talent at their disposal, watch out for Pooler’s Huw Anderson. The youngster proved a try scoring machine last season and he is at home either on the wing or at full-back. He’ll also have the incentive of impressing Wales U20s management for action later in the season, so he won’t lack for motivation.
Pontypridd have dipped into their pockets and picked up a number of players along the way. It’s already been noted above Macauley Cook and Garyn Smith are welcome returnees, but former Wales U20s fly half Josh Phillips could be their most vital signing. He has a big boot and runs the game well. If Ponty’s pack can give him plenty of front foot ball, then the Sardis Road faithful will have something to shout about after a few lean years.
Aberavon are still probably scratching their heads on how they missed out on a play-off spot last season after starting the season with a hiss and a road. Bonus points were picked up constantly before the well went dry and Jason Hyatt’s team finished in sixth spot. Hyatt has plenty of tried and tested talent at his disposal this season, with big things expected of youngster Scott Delnevo at full-back.
Hyatt is constantly one of the Premiership’s biggest cheerleaders and no doubt he will have something up his sleeve this year to ensure his side prepare for a marathon rather than a sprint.
Steve Law apparently hasn’t slept a wink since seeing his side lose last season’s play-off final so expect the Blue & Blacks to come bouncing back in style, and with a clutch of young hopefuls at his disposal, they should be good value for money too. Watch out for Mackenzie Martin in the pack – a dynamic ball carrier on his day – hopefully he can put a string of games together to gain a regular spot as alongside Morgan Allen, he could prove a real crowd pleaser.
