Welsh champions Neath open the defence of their Principality Premiership title on Saturday with a testing visit to Glamorgan Wanderers at the Memorial Ground (kick off 2.30pm).
The Welsh All Blacks have won five of the seven Premiership championships since its inception but remain determined to continue to drive up their standards.
Neath have a new captain in consistent flanker Gareth Gravell and he is joined by the bulk of last season’s squad with No.8 Adam Powell, surprisingly released by Cardiff, the only player making his League debut in the famous All Black shirt.
Aaron Bramwell comes back on the wing after spells with Ebbw Vale and Pontypridd, while two Gnoll returnees after spells in the full-time game are prop Ross Davies and former Wales ‘A’ No.8 Nathan Bonner-Evans.
The latter will be on a strong-looking replacements’ bench alongside summer recruits in Ireland Under-20’s flanker Ejike Ugozigwe, Wales Sevens scrum-half Chris Morgans and Wales Under-20 starlet David Langdon.
All at The Gnoll will be pleased to see the return to full fitness of centre Luke Ford who was sidelined for most of last season.
“We fully realise that we will face a very strong challenge from Glamorgan Wanderers who knocked us out of the Cup in very controversial circumstances last year,” said Neath head coach Patrick Horgan.
“After winning the play-offs at the end of May, we had a shorter than usual summer break and started our preparations a little later than we would have liked but the boys have worked hard in training and last week’s excellent win over Plymouth Albion was very encouraging.
“We have added depth to our squad in one or two areas, and in Gareth Gravell we have a captain who is well used to the responsibility. He will demand the high standards that we always seek to improve upon and we can’t wait to get started.”
Neath (vs Glamorgan Wanderers, Saturday, 2.30pm, Memorial Ground)
15 G.King; 14 K.Phillips, 13 S.Thomas, 12 L.Ford, 11 A.Bramwell; 10 G.McCarthy, 9 T.James; 1 N.Downs, 2 A.Littlehales, 3 R.Davies; 4 E.Evans, 5 P.Sidoli; 6 G.Gravell (captain), 8 A.Powell, 7 A.Whitney
Replacements: A.V.Lott, A.James, M.Collins, N.Bonner-Evans, E.Ugozigwe, C.Morgans, D.Langdon
