The biggest name to move on is Morgan Allen, who has finally left Cardiff and joined Pontypool. The former Ospreys and Scarlets back row man was captain at the Arms Park club when they won the cup and league titles in recent seasons.
Even though he is now 34, his return to Pontypool Park, where he played 19 games in the 2009-10 season, is being seen as a huge coup as the Gwent side moves to another level. Bargoed back row recruit Lewis Robey is bound to benefit from Allen’s experience, while tight head prop Harry Drane has joined from Ebbw Vale.
Swansea will have former Wales U20 caps Luca Giannini, Josh Phillips and Ellis Fackrell in their ranks for the new campaign and also welcome back another junior international in centre Callum Carson after he spent last season at Aberavon.
Outside half James Davies is another player returning from the Wizards, along with prop Chris Davies and scrum half Iwan Temblett, while the All Whites have also picked up Swansea University locks Chris Thompson and Ben Roberts.
Jason Hyatt’s Aberavon squad has been bolstered by the addition of seven times capped Wales U20 prop Louis Fletcher. The 22-year-old former Sale Sharks and Ospreys academy player has finished his course at Swansea University and joins after starring in BUCS Super Rugby.
Another convert from BUCS Super Rugby is scrum half Elis Horgan, who captain Bath University during his four seasons there. He has played in Ospreys age grade teams in the past and also represented Neath.
Cardiff Rugby academy back row man Gwilym Evans, another Wales U20 cap, is another major recruit as Hyatt looks to rebuild his side ahead of the Super Rygbi Cymru kick-off.
Both Carmarthen Athletic and Newport will be celebrating their 150th anniversary seasons, with Newport hoping to go one better than the second place they secured in the Indigo Premiership last season. The Black & Ambers have announced their retained list for next season, which includes ex-Dragons lock Rynard Landman and current Dragons backs coach Matt O’Brien, and they have new recruits in the pipeline.
Reigning champions Llandovery are looking for a new defence coach after Tom Hancock was snapped up by the Dragons, while former Ospreys, Harlequins, Worcester Warriors and Wales hooker Scott Baldwin has taken over as head coach at Bridgend Ravens.
Baldwin will have former Cardiff Met and England Students lock Barnaby Waddell to work with next season, along with Pontypridd converts Macauley Rowley and Curtis Greenslade. Former Scarlets academy and Carmarthen Quins centre Corum Knott is another valuable addition.The Ravens will warm up for the new season with games against Plymouth Albion and Bourneville. Waddell will help to fill the gap created by Jack Pope’s switch from the Brewery Field to Ebbw Vale.The Steelmen reached the semi-finals last season and have also recruited Canadian flanker Sion Parry from Pontypridd, Cardiff prop Adam Williams and former Bristol Bears academy player Matt Jones.
