Neath Launch Principality Premiership Defence at Home

Principality Premiership champions Neath kick-off the defence of their title with a home clash against Glamorgan Wanderers at The Gnoll on Saturday, 28 August.

Pat Horgan’s side were comfortable winers 48-17 in the corresponding fixture last season, running in eight tries, but know not to take the Wanderers lightly having been beaten 33-24 at the Memorial Ground.

While outside half Arwel Thomas has finally hung up his boots, and former Wales full back Kevin Morgan has taken up a full-time role as Ospreys conditioning coach, Nathan Bonner-Evans has joined the club from London Welsh. Former Wales Under 21 full back and Wales Sevens squad member Aaron Bramwell has been recruited from Pontypridd along with young Ospreys prop Ross Davies, Aberavon’s Chris Morgan and former Glamorgan Wanderers outside half James Thomas has joined from Coventry.

Premiership newcomers Tonmawr, who won the Swalec Division 1 West title last season, will launch their debut season in the top flight with an attractive home fixture with Aberavon.

So dominant were the side coached by Jason Hyatt last season that Tonmawr won their division by a clear margin of 29 points and suffered only two defeats. Among the new recruits are former Neath duo Kevin James and Wayner Mitchell, utility-back Kiba Richards from National League Division 2 South club Ealing and four ex-Ebbw Vale players, utility-back Andrew Williams, flanker Andy Llewellyn, lock Jonathan Griffiths and prop Matt Jeffries and Ystrad Rhondda flanker Howard Stoddart, brother of Scarlets full back Morgan.

Veteran lock Matthew Veater, who has won the Premiership crown with both Newport and Cardiff, has joined Pontypool and the Torfaen club will be hoping to build on their end of season form earlier in the year when they staved off the threat of relegation.

They open their season with a home clash with Bedwas, a game in which new back row recruit Luke Dyckoff could face his former team mates. Pontypool have lost goalkicker Sam Mills to relegated Ebbw Vale, while Bedwas have lost this season’s Wales Under 20 captain Dan Watchurst to Newport and gained former Wales Under 20 prop Scott Roberts from Coventry.

A storming second half of the season left Llandovery comfortably placed in eighth place and earned them a crack at the Play-Offs where they gained a British and Irish Cup place. They will be looking to continue that form when they host Swansea on opening day.

The All Whites did the double over the Drovers last term, so it will take a mighty effort for the Church Bank side to open with a victory. Lyndon Lewis will be head coach and Euros Evans has come in as forwards coach.

Newport start with an attractive game against Llanelli at Rodney Parade and, with both last season’s meetings being closely contested affairs, another tight game is anticipated. Amongst the Black and Ambers’ new faces are Gareth Chapman from Cardiff and Watchurst from Bedwas.

Scarlets academy members George North, Rhodri Jones and Kirby Myhill will be turning out for Llanelli this season, along with new recruits Owen Williams (Ystradgynlais), Liam Williams (Waunarlwydd) and former England Under 20 back row Matt Gilbert who joins from Italian outfit Rugby Alghero.

Cross Keys will head to Sardis Road to face a Pontypridd side that led the Premiership for a chunk of last season. Ponty also did the double over their visitors and will be confident of making a winning start, even though Keys have brought in a number of new players.

Cardiff entertain a Carmarthen Quins outfit that found life difficult in the top flight last term before a solid finish to the season left them in a comfortable ninth place with a SWALEC Cup final appearance to boot.

Cardiff did the double over them and have recruited Scott Sneddon and Wales Under 20 full back Dan Fish from Glamorgan Wanderers, along with Richard Hodges who will take over the coaching reins. Quins have enlisted the help of former Scarlets speedster Darren Daniel and front rowers Ian Jones (Llanelli) and former Scarlets academy hooker Dan George from London Welsh, although they have lost lost Tristan Davies to Ebbw Vale and Ioan Cunningham to Bridgend.

Principality Premiership Fixtures 2010/11

* International weekend

** Fixtures subject to rearrangement if a Club qualifies for B and I Cup QFs.

Share with friends.....

Facebook

Email

Google

Twitter

Linkedin

Stumbleupon

Tumblr

Pinterest