Now coaching at the Ospreys Academy and with the forwards at Indigo Premiership outfit Bridgend, the 66-times capped lock is stepping back into the thick of the action for the Ravens first home game of the season against Aberavon.
Jack Pope will pack down alongside him and the experienced duo in the Wizards second row, Shay Smallman and Rhodri Hughes, will get a chance to measure themselves against a three-time World Cup player and a 2012 Grand Slammer.
RGC head south for their opening game of the season against Cardiff at the Arms Park, where they haven’t won since 2016, with former England U20 world champion and ex-Dragons forward Huw Taylor in their second row.
Merthyr have ex-Wales U20 and Dragons back row man Lennon Greggains on their bench awaiting his debut for the Ironmen.
BRIDGEND v ABERAVON – Brewery Field, 2.30pm
Bridgend: Edd Howley; Caine Woolerton, Stuart Floyd Ellis, Rhys Williams, Cameron Ellis; Luke Price, Chris Williams; Phil Price, Gareth Harvey, Matholwch Scott, Bradley Davies, Jack Pope, Iestyn Merriman, Zac O’Driscoll (captain), Alfie Llewellyn
Reps: Alex George, Harry Olding, Liam Tobias, Dylan Burrows, Aled Evans, Connor Tantum, Tommy Morgan, Joe Gatt
Aberavon: Scott Delnevo; Jay Baker, Frankie Jones, Joe Gage (captain), Stef Andrews; James Davies, Aron Hemmings; Rowan Jenkins, Luke Davies, Geraint James, Shay Smallman, Rhodri Hughes, Ben Gregory, Rhys Thomas, Casey Williams
Reps: Iwan Temblett, Aled Thomas, Bradley Roderick, Cameron Lewis, Joe Tomalin-Reeves, Travis Huntley, Jordan Walters, Rhys Fawcett
CARDIFF V RGC – Arms Park, 2.30pm
Cardiff: Jacob Lloyd; James Beal, Luke Pollock, Arron Pinches, Dewi Cross; Harrison James, Tom Habberfield; Marc Thomas, Joey Tomlinson, Freddie Barnes, Sean Moore, Shaun O’Rourke, Craig Hudd, Nathan Hudd, Morgan Allen (captain)
Reps: Alun Rees, Theo Bevacqua, Adam Williams, Ethan Phillips, Harry Oliver, Joe Williams, Kodie Stone, Matty Young
RGC: Caio Parry; Harri Hughes, Mathew Buchanan, Delwyn Jones, Rhys Tudor; Sam Earl-Jones, Ollie Wynn; Jessie Williams, Jordan Liney, Pedr Jones, Huw Taylor, Ilan Evans, Tal Taylor, Dan Owen (captain), Celt Roberts
Reps: Rhodri King, Christian Hone, Jordan Scott, Jack Davies, Dafydd Williams, Louis Williams, Sam Stoddard
EBBW VALE v PONTYPRIDD – Eugene Cross Park, 2.30pm
Ebbw Vale: Morgan Richards; Harry Rees-Weldon, Ethan Phillips, Dominic Franchi, Ryan Davies; Evan Lloyd, Jonathan Evans; Luke Garrett, Rhys Francis (captain), Harry Drane, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Cameron Regan, Lewis Young, Ryan Jenkins
Reps: Ieuan Morris, Morgan Davies, Adam Court, Jakub Malecki, Chad Thomas, Rory Harries, Kieran Meek, Gethin Williams
Pontypridd: Liam Lloyd; McCauley Rowley, Garyn Smith, Ryan Wilkins, Dale Stuckey; Josh Phillips, Harvey Nash; Tom Devine, Rob Jones, Tom Harper, Macauley Cook, Chris Dicomidis, Kris Parker (captain), Cai James, Joe Miles
Reps: Curtis Greenslade, Ben Stephens, Morgan Bosanko, Lloyd Jones, Will Gregory, Joel Raikes, Joe Scrivens, Will Keep
LLANDOVERY v MERTHYR – Church Bank, 2.30pm
Llandovery: Jack Maynard; Harri Doel, Macs Page, Rhodri Jones, Jac Davies; Ioan Hughes, Lee Rees (captain); Jamie Hughes, Harry Thomas, Richard Murphy, Chris Long, Joe Powell, Osian Davies, Stuart Worrall, Jordan Evans
Reps: Llew Phillips-Taylor, Dino Dallavalle, Guto Jones, Marco Dallavalle, Tom Poole, Adam Warren, Aaron Warren, Dafydd Land
Merthyr: Ben Jones; Teri Gee, Rhys Davies, Morgan Sieniawski, Adam Hoskins; Gareth Thompson, Ethan Lloyd; Josh Jones, Liam Wiggins, Dave Whiting, Craig Locke, Callum Bradbury, Paddy McBride (captain), Ben Fry, Sam Evans
Reps: Dan Wall, Travis Hawkins, Rhys Lewis, Lennon Greggains, Tom Jevons, James Soanes, Josh Lewis, Dafydd Thomas
NEATH v CARMARTHEN QUINS – The Gnoll, 2.30pm
Neath: Lewis Evans; Josh Congreve, Ryan Evans (captain), Kieran Charles, Joe Hutchings; Kristian Jones, Elis Horgan; Jack Powell, Chris Morris, Gareth Lloyd, Cai Arnold, Jacob Blackmore, Fletcher Barry, Ben Williams, Morgan Kneath
Reps: Elis Hopkins, Evan Kneath, Tim Ryan, Ioan Jones, Carwyn Sion, Fergus Kneath, Macauley Griffiths, Aaron Bramwell
Carmarthen Quins: Jac Wilson; Corum Nott, Ryan Davies, Josh Batcup, Kalum Evans; Charlie Titcombe, Efan Jones; Sam O’Connor, Torin Myhill, Connor Allen, Ryan Bean, Josh Helps, Tom Phillips (captain), Ed Leatherbarrow, Lewys Millin
Reps: Ifan James, Sion Jones, Ben Leung, Caleb Salmon, Will Icke, Rhodri Davies, Harri Williams, Iestyn Gwilliam
PONTYPOOL V SWANSEA – Pontypool Park, 2.30pm
Pontypool: Matt Bancroft; Deon Smith, Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney, Huw Anderson; Matthew Jarvis, Morgan Lloyd; Sam Cochrane, Sam Scarfe, Ollie Drake, Lance Randall, Ashley Sweet, Scott Matthews (captain), Callum Davies, Ben Moa
Reps: Kyan Best, Peter Lloyd, Lewis Johnson, Adam Stratton, Owain Leonard, Amosa Nove
Swansea: Gareth O Rees, Matthew Jenkins, Joe Thomas, Osian Knott, Harvey James; Rhys Jones, Matthew Aubrey; Ed Thompson, Jamie Cox, Scott Jenkins, Lloyd Ashley, Matt Dodd, Jake Baker, Callum Bowden (captain), Joe Greaves
Reps: Owen Thomas, Freddie Chapman, Kian Hire, Lewis Jones, Dai Francis, Rhodri Lewis, Marcus Brown, Willis Wood
