In an inspired innovation, the WRU has opted to kick-off the new campaign with as many local derbies as possible and it means fans won’t have far to travel and are guaranteed a spine-tingling start.
The first game between Llanelli and Swansea was on 5 February, 1876 – the second game in the history of Llanelli. The fixture was played at Felinfoel and the result was a 0-0 draw.
Now the All Whites travel over the Loughor bridge to face one of their oldest of foes at Parc Y Scarlets in the first competitive game of their 150th anniversary season. In Gwent, Newport welcome Ebbw Vale, while Sardis Road will host the clash between Pontypridd and Cardiff.
Add in Carmarthen Quins v Llandovery, Aberavon v Bridgend and Merthyr v RGC and all the ingredients are there for a fantastic start to the season.
Among those who can’t wait to see the Indigo Prem return to a full-blown home and away league with play-offs to decide the champions are a number of media personnel who are involved in regular coverage of the tournament.
We asked them to give us an idea of which players to look out for, which teams are going to make the play-offs and what excites them about the league.
PHIL STEELE (SCRUM V)
I think it was the former CEO at the WRU, Roger Lewis, who once described the Premiership as the hidden gem in Welsh rugby. He wasn’t wrong there. It contains all the ingredients to provide players, coaches and fans with a high quality rugby experience. In my view the authorities need to be more prescriptive in what they want the competition to achieve and a reduction in numbers (8, 9 or 10) seems to be the best way forward to me. At least we know it is going to be 12 this season and 14 next year!
When you consider the huge brand names contained within the premiership, clubs who are recognised around the rugby playing world, its appeal and potential are massive. I love the idea of kicking-off with local derbies and I can’t wait to go to Newport Stadium to watch the Black & Ambers take on the Steelmen.
Newport have made a real home away from their old home of Rodney Parade at their new ground and almost completed the double last season. I expect them to be right up there with Cardiff vying for the top spot.
The return of the play-offs is another big plus for the tournament and it is going to be hugely competitive trying to get into the top four. I also think that without any relegation this season there will be more attacking play. What will anyone have to lose!
It is a fantastic boost to have the Fijian star Nikola Matawalu coming into the Pontypridd squad and he is going to be the star attraction. Not so long ago he was ripping it up in Europe and in the URC with Glasgow Warriors. I’m sure it won’t be long before he picks up a try of the month award!
I’ve always been a fan of the family approach they have at Aberavon and in Dan Baker, the former Ospreys, Dragons and Wales No 8 they have arguably the best forward addition to the tournament. Bridgend will be hoping to pick up under new head coach Tom Smith, Swansea should improve after linking up with the Ospreys academy and Merthyr have had an influx of Dragons to give them a boost.
RGC will be competitive again, but for me the team to beat will be the reigning champions, Cardiff. Their model of mixing academy players with seasoned semi-pros worked superbly well. Is that the way forward in the end for a slimmed down Premiership?
IOAN DYER (GTFM RADIO)
Phil’s right, I think it is going to be a battle between the Blue & Blacks and Black & Ambers for the title. Defending their title won’t be straightforward for Cardiff. Expectation levels will be much higher and they will have a target on their back from game one. You also have to factor in a greater number of matches this season as we go back to home and away games. But Cardiff know how to win and have a mix of exciting young players pushing for senior rugby, some experienced players to back them up and a determined coach in Steve Law. Newport came so close last year to completing the league and cup double and they’ve made some good signings to strengthen their squad.
As for players to get excited by this season, Joe Miles was one of the ‘new kids’ at Sardis Road not so long ago, yet now seems to be one of the most experienced forwards. He appears all over the place during a game and will now have the former Wales U20 and Cardiff Met skipper, Aled Ward, alongside him.
There are some other good forwards to look out for in Osian Davies (Merthyr), Dylan Bartlett (Ebbw Vale), Ethan Fackrell (RGC) and Torin Myhill (Carmarthen Quins), but the most exciting last season and potentially this is Cardiff full back Jacob Beetham. He has plenty of pace, scores tries for fun and is pretty good with his kicking. He stepped up to senior rugby on a couple of occasions last season and never looked out of place.
We’re also going to see the Wales U20 try machine Harri Houston playing on the wing for Swansea, Luke Price back in Welsh rugby at Bridgend, Wales U20 centre Eddie James strutting his stuff at Llanelli and ex-Bristol Bears wing Gabe Lacey flying around the place at Aberavon. The Indigo Prem promises to be fast, furious and exciting. I can’t wait!
LAUREN JENKINS (S4C)
After their one point defeat at home to RGC last season put a dent in their title hopes, Newport will be desperately keen to avoiding being pipped by Cardiff once again. They showed their character in their final game, two days after Cardiff had picked up the title, in staging a thrilling show at Carmarthen. Their captain, Matt O’Brien, is one of the best players in the competition and has an amazing knack of unlocking opposition defences.
Cardiff’s blend of promising academy players and experience in key positions will make them among the favourites and a new look Pontypridd – minus Ben Burnell but now with Fijian star Nikola Matawalu – could be back in the mix.
When Joe Peard was signed by Cardiff, Dai Young was quick to point out his new lock’s 6ft 8ins, 20 stone physique was something you simply cannot coach into a player. Size, particularly in his position, is something we’ve lacked in Wales across all levels and regular experience in this league should develop his all round game.
Consistent performances for Cardiff in the Premiership should have him mentioned in the same breath as his Wales U20 colleagues, the promising Exeter duo of Chris Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins. I love watching the Under 20s players in this league and flanker Ethan Fackrell is a great acquisition for RGC. During the three years I presented Rygbi Pawb (Schools and Colleges league) he was one of the most consistent and influential players I watched, a name you get to know pretty quickly and don’t forget in a hurry.
Behind the scrum, the Premiership hasn’t been wanting for high scoring, free flowing rugby but new Ponty recruit Nikola Matawalu could well take things to another level. Fast, inventive and fun to watch, I expect him to be given the freedom to conjure tries from all positions, even on the coldest of nights in Eugene Cross Park. Last year Newport’s Matt O’Brien and Dan Fish often played alongside younger academy players and I’m excited to see the likes of Adam Warren and Tavis Knoyle play similar roles this year at Llandovery and Merthyr respectively.
HOWARD EVANS (veteran Premiership reporter)
Pick of the forwards this season will be Aberavon’s new signing Dan Baker and he will challenge Cardiff’s Morgan Allen as potentially the most influential player in the Premiership. But both will still have some way to go to surpass Newport skipper and centre Matt O’Brien as the overall best player. He is calm, rarely ruffled, plays with a smile on his face and is the perfect clubman. He scores and makes tries, kicks goals and has an outstanding rugby brain.
Cardiff have two exciting young full backs in Jacob Beetham and Cam Winnett, although it is likely Beetham will be more involved at regional level after a breakthrough campaign in the Premiership last season. The wily Cardiff coach Steve Law has also Wales U20 lock Joe Peard to nurture and will be charged with preparing a new wave of youngsters to challenge for full-time pro contracts.
As for the title race, it is likely to be much the same as Premiership Soccer where Liverpool and Manchester City rule the roost. In the Premiership it is hard to look beyond the top two from last season, Cardiff and Newport. The latter have a settled side coached splendidly by Tyron Morris, who will stick with a good home-grown squad. At Cardiff, Law will once again look to blend the academy talent with his senior pros.
Rowland Phillips faces a big task in filling Dale McIntosh’s coaching boots at Merthyr; Bridgend will miss No 8 Morgan Strong, who has joined Paul Turner at Ampthill; Jason Strange will have to work overtime to keep Ebbw Vale going, although they will be hard to beat at home; Justin Burnell was short of experience in his Pontypridd squad until Aled Ward and Nikola Matawalu signed on, but they will miss his son, Ben, who is now with Cardiff.
Llandovery have the former international Adam Warren back from the Dragons to join his brother Aaron in what will surely be a useful ‘Drovers’ side, while new coach Marc Jones has a dogged, experienced side at Carmarthen Quins.
ROB COLE (WESTGATE SPORTS AGENCY)
Picking a winner is tough, but even trying to pick the top four for the play-offs is difficult. You’d have to back Cardiff and Newport to be back at the top, but with everyone having to make the long trek to Colwyn Bay to face RGC that is a factor that comes into play.
Ceri Jones ‘Gogs’ are going to be right in the reckoning this season and he believes he has found a couple of props to follow in the footsteps of Sam Wainwright in climbing the ladder into the pro game. Dion Jones is going to be their key player at No 10, but they are my wildcard for the title.
Then where do you go? Merthyr have a new coach and host of incoming experience and a desire to get back to the top of the table. They should have the talent behind, but it will be down to Craig Locke once again to get his pack firing on all cylinders if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four.
Llandovery, Carmarthen Quins and Aberavon will be there or thereabouts and I expect to see Hugh Gustafson have more quality players at his disposable to hewlp turn Swansea into a truly competitive unit once again. Will he have enough in his armoury to reach the play-offs? I doubt it, but they’ll take some big scalps.
If Pontypridd had a stronger set of forwards then Nikola Matawalu and Dale Stuckey would have a field day on the flanks. It is going to be difficult for Justin Burnell’s pack to battle with the big boys, but like Swansea they will be a handful.
That leaves Bridgend, Llanelli and Ebbw Vale. They certainly won’t be making up the numbers, but I can’t see them challenging for a top four finish. Woe betide any side, though, that takes them for granted.
GRAEME GILLESPIE (WRU WEBSITE MANAGER / WALES U20 PRESS OFFICER)
Newport are still probably scratching their heads wondering how they managed to let the trophy slip through their fingers last time out. And even though the likes of Aberavon, Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins can be a match for anyone on their day, I expect Cardiff and Newport to be title contenders again this season – only this time Newport will go all the way.
It’s a big season for a lot of players and I’m expecting big things from a number of Wales U20 players this campaign. Flanker Ethan Fackrell is a great signing for RGC – his no-nonsense approach is going to be a huge boost for the north Walians – but it his former Cardiff club colleague Rhys Barratt who could take the campaign by the scruff of the neck. He is big, strong and has a turn of pace for someone of his size. He has put aside playing for Cardiff Met this season so he can fully concentrate on his club rugby.
There is no shortage of talent in the Indigo Prem behind the scrum with the likes of centre Adam Warren (Llandovery), scrum half Rhodri Lewis (Carmarthen Quins) and Llanelli outside half Josh Phillips likely to play major roles for their respective clubs. But Newport and Wales U20 wing Oli Andrew has the raw ingredients to pose major problems this season. Big, strong and deceptively quick, he is also a grafter and no stranger to chasing lost causes. With Newport on the front foot, he could be scoring tries for fun, particularly when the grounds are firmer.
