The All Whites dropped out of the top-flight for the first time in their history last season and are determined to climb back as quickly as possible. They start their Championship season in Cyncoed against the students of Cardiff Met.
It might be new territory for some of the Swansea players, but director of rugby Richard Lancaster knows all about the potency of the Cardiff Met line-up from his role as director of rugby at Swansea University.
Chris Davey’s Cardiff Met side have been the best student outfit in Wales for many years and finished as runners-up to Ebbw Vale last season in the Championship. Despite their difficulties in early season, when students are still returning to campus, they remain one of the most consistent sides in the division.
“Cardiff Met are one of Swansea University’s biggest rivals on the student scene, so it will be a good challenge on the opening weekend to get us off the ground. Some of our other September opponents are familiar too like Tata Steel and I know many of the guys at Bridgend Athletic from my time at Bridgend,” said Lancaster.
The other newcomers to the Championship, SWALEC Division 1 East champions Merthyr and Division 1 West champions Glynneath, will also get their first taste of life in the upper echelons. Glynneath added the Silver Ball to their trophy cabinet last season as they achieved their third promotion in seven seasons.
Three players have moved on to Principality Premiership club Neath for the new season, including the highly rated scrum half Rhodri Cole, but head coach Dai Puckett has retained most of the pack that dominated so many of their opponents last season. They start at home against Tata Steel.
Merthyr warmed up for their step-up in class with a 10-22 home defeat against Premiership side Cardiff and will be hoping to build on a season that not only saw them win the Division 1 East title, but also carry off the SWALEC Plate at the Millennium Stadium.
Former Wales outside half Lee Jarvis and Gary Horrigan’s side will kick-off their Championship campaign on the road at Llanharan, who are this season captained by Scott Malone.
“These are exciting times for the club after our most successful season ever,” said Jarvis. “We’ve recruited a couple of players and are ready for the new challenge ahead.
“Although we like to play some rugby, we expect this division to be more physical than Division One, so our set-piece will need to be good, especially in the winter months. We’ll look forward to Llanharan on the opening weekend and I know coaches Matthew Lloyd and Dennis John well.
“We know that other clubs will want to knock us off our perch after our successes last season. Tondu and Narberth, our next two opponents, are very experienced in this league and I’m sure it will take us a bit of time to bed in.
“But we’ve had some good pre-season games against Cardiff and Coventry and we’re ready for the season.”
While Lancaster, Puckett and Jarvis will be treading in the dark a little to begin with, Chris Davey knows all about the strength of the Championship and its unpredictable nature.
“It’s a very good division and there isn’t much between the top half of the Championship and the bottom half of the Premiership. It is certainly very physical and there are a lot of experienced players involved,” said Davey.
“I don’t think Swansea will have it all their own way in their bid to go straight back up. That will be a big game for us and the start of a very interesting month for us as we then have Tata Steel, who are always difficult, Bridgend Athletic, who will be looking to start the season well, and Newbridge, who have recruited heavily.”
The other opening round fixtures see Pontypool travel to Bargoed, Narberth host Bridgend Athletic, Tondu welcome Newbridge and RGC 1404, who finished third last season, travel to Blackwood.
SWALEC Championship Round One
Cardiff Met v Swansea
Bargoed v Pontypool
Glynneath v Tata Steel
Llanharan v Merthyr
Narberth v Bridgend Ath
Tondu v Newbridge
Blackwood v RGC 1404
