Arguably the tie of the opening weekend sees last year’s league champions Pontypridd take on SWALEC Cup winners Cross Keys.
Ponty travel to Pandy Park knowing they face a real challenge on the opening weekend against the side that finished sixth last year and beat them in the Cup final but coach Dale McIntosh is confident ahead of the game.
“Across the board we’ve got a stronger squad this year,” he said.
“We’ve got 32 players who will push for selection week in week out so selection is going to be tough.
Speaking of Cross Keys, McIntosh added: “They’re a club on the up and had a tremendous season last year so we’ll have to take our A game there and if we do that it will take a good side to beat us.
“If that side is Cross Keys then hats off to them.”
Ponty’s opponents are equally confident though with Cross Keys captain Rob Nash knowing his side will be marked men after their success last year.
“In previous years when I’ve played for Cross Keys people haven’t expected much from us so this year is going to be different,” Nash said.
“They know what to expect, they know we’re a good team so expectations are going to be a lot higher and teams are going to pick up their game against us.
“We have to adapt to that so we’ll have to be on the top of our game if we want to retain the cup and win the league.”
Elsewhere on the opening weekend, Bridgend take on Llanelli with Bridgend captain Jonathon Vaughan looking for revenge after two losses to Llanelli last year.
“Llanelli were one of the few teams that beat us twice last year so we really want to go out and get that win against them this year,” he said.
“Last season was our first back in the Premiership and we’ve done well to be within the 12 this year so our aim is to build on last year.
“This year we’re aiming to push forward and get into the top half of the table.”
In what promises to be another feisty clash, Neath welcome Swansea to The Gnoll while Bedwas take on Carmarthen.
After a mid-table finish last year, Cardiff will be looking for an improvement this year as they welcome Llandovery to Cardiff Arms Park.
“For Cardiff, eighth isn’t good enough and we’ve got to improve on that and we should be pushing for the top three at least,” said the Blue and Blacks captain Shaun Powell.
“I’m an ambitious player so I’m targeting every game we play. It’s a good starting block against Llandovery so hopefully we’ll push on from there.”
One side to look out for may be Aberavon who finished third last year and have added former Welsh international Mark Taylor and Craig Warlow to Simon King’s coaching staff. The Wizards take on Newport at the Talbot Athletic ground on Saturday.
Inspired by their new coaches, the Wizards are looking to play more of an expansive game and captain Sam Williams is hoping the new approach can see them claim some silverware.
“It’s definitely a year where we can win either the cup or the league,” he said.
“Craig Warlow and Mark Taylor are two great guys and we can only get better from them coaching us.
“We’ve been predominantly known for having a big pack but we’re really trying to open up our game and hopefully we’ll see some real benefits from it.”
Updated Principality Premiership fixture list:
1st September 2012
Neath v Swansea
Cardiffv Llandovery
Aberavon v Newport
Bedwas v Carmarthen
Bridgend v Llanelli
Cross Keys v Pontypridd
** Friday 7 September
Newportv Llanelli
8th September 2012
Neath v Llandovery
Swanseav Aberavon
Carmarthen v Cardiff
*Cross Keys v Bridgend
Pontypridd v Bedwas
15th September 2012
Llanelli v Neath
Bedwas v Swansea
Llandovery v Bridgend
Cross Keys v Aberavon
Carmarthenv Pontypridd
Cardiffv Newport
Wednesday 19th September 2012
Neath v Carmarthen
Swanseav Cross Keys
Pontypridd v Llandovery
Aberavon v Llanelli
Bridgend v Cardiff
Newportv Bedwas
22nd September 2012
Cross Keys v Neath
Llandovery v Swansea
Carmarthen v Newport
Bedwas v Llanelli
Pontypridd v Bridgend
** Sunday 23 September
Cardiffv Aberavon
29th September 2012
Neath v Pontypridd
Swanseav Cardiff
*Llandovery v Newport
Aberavon v Bedwas
Bridgend v Carmarthen
Llanelli v Cross Keys
6th October 2012
Bedwas v Neath
Pontypridd v Swansea
Llandovery v Llanelli
Carmarthen v Aberavon
*Cross Keys v Cardiff
Bridgend v Newport
27th October 2012
Neath v Bridgend
Swanseav Carmarthen
Aberavon v Llandovery
Cardiff v Llanelli
Cross Keys v Bedwas
** Sunday 28 October
Newportv Pontypridd
3rd November 2012
Cardiffv Neath
Llandovery v Bedwas
Bridgend v Aberavon
Carmarthenv Cross Keys
Llanelli v Pontypridd
Newportv Swansea
17th November 2012
Neath v Newport
Swanseav Bridgend
Cross Keys v Llandovery
Aberavon v Pontypridd
Bedwas v Cardiff
Llanelli v Carmarthen
Friday 23rd November 2012
Swanseav Neath
Llandovery v Cardiff
Carmarthenv Bedwas
Llanelli v Bridgend
Pontypridd v Cross Keys
**Sunday 25 November
Newportv Aberavon
Friday 30th November
Carmarthenv Neath
Cross Keys v Swansea
Llandovery v Pontypridd
Llanelli v Aberavon
Cardiffv Bridgend
Bedwas v Newport
22nd December 2012
Neath v Llanelli
Swanseav Bedwas
Bridgend v Llandovery
Aberavon v Cross Keys
Pontypridd v Carmarthen
Newportv Cardiff
Wednesday 26th December
Aberavon v Neath
Llanelli v Swansea
Llandovery v Carmarthen
Cardiffv Pontypridd
Cross Keys v Newport
Bedwas v Bridgend
Friday 4 Jan
**Newport v Llandovery
5th January 2013
Pontypridd v Neath
Cardiffv Swansea
Bedwas v Aberavon
Carmarthenv Bridgend
Cross Keys v Llanelli
Friday 8th February 2013
Neath v Cross Keys
Swanseav Llandovery
Aberavon v Cardiff
Llanelli v Bedwas
Bridgend v Pontypridd
** Sunday 10 Feb
Newportv Carmarthen
23rd February 2013
Bridgend v Neath
Carmarthen v Swansea
Llandovery v Aberavon
Llanelli v Cardiff
Pontypridd v Newport
Bedwas v Cross Keys
2nd March 2013
Neath v Bedwas
Swanseav Pontypridd
Llanelli v Llandovery
Aberavon v Carmarthen
*Cardiff v Cross Keys
Newportv Bridgend
9th March 2013
Newportv Neath
Bridgend v Swansea
Llandovery v Cross Keys
Pontypridd v Aberavon
Cardiffv Bedwas
Carmarthenv Llanelli
30th March 2013
Neath v Aberavon
Swanseav Llanelli
Carmarthenv Llandovery
Pontypridd v Cardiff
Newportv Cross Keys
Bridgend v Bedwas
27th April 2013
Neath v Cardiff
Bedwas v Llandovery
Aberavon v Bridgend
Cross Keys v Carmarthen
Pontypridd v Llanelli
Swansea v Newport
*fixture venue switch
**fixture date change
