Sweeney is going back to where his career began to see out his career after successful periods at Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons and Exeter Chiefs. His first assignment will be at Parc y Scarlets, where reigning champions Pontypridd launch the defence of their campaign.
There are no changes to the 12 teams in the Premiership for the 2015/16 season, but there are a few more big names returning to the tournament other than Sweeney. Wales former most-caped forward Gareth Llewellyn will be the new forwards coach at his former club Neath, while Nigel Davies is taking over the reins at Ebbw Vale.
Davies has coach Wales, the Scarlets and Gloucester and steps into the highly successful shoes of Jason Strange, who has taken up a leading post at the Welsh Rugby Union. The Steelmen, who reached the play-off final on their first season back in the top flight, kick-off their campaign at Bridgend.
The Ravens beat Pontypridd in the SSE Swalec Cup final at the Millennium Stadium last season and will head coach Michael Hook will be hoping his side can build on that performance in the league next season to try to climb out of the basement area. There will be a repeat of the cup final in round two of the Premiership, when Bridgend travel to Sardis Road.
Cardiff head coach Simon King will know all about the task facing his men at the Talbot Athletic Ground on the opening day of the season having been in charge of Aberavon for so many years, while Euros Evans will start his career in charge of the Llandovery team with a home clash against Cross Keys.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP INS AND OUTS
* All transfers are subject to WRU approval
Aberavon
In:Â Ben Jones (Bridgend), Jon Thomas (Bridgend), James Garland (Llandovery)
Out:Â Neil White (Swansea), Nic Damjanovic (Swansea), Ryan Harford (Pontypool), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Ceiron Thomas (Llangennech).
Bedwas
In: Â James Dixon (Bridgend), Andrew Waite (Bridgend), Adam Williams (Bridgend), Mitchell Auger (Bridgend), Aidan Laxton (Carmarthen Quins), David Jones (Ebbw Vale), Geraint Edmunds (Bargoed)
Out: Simon Granger (Beddau), Stuart Thomas (retired), Jack Maynard (Llandovery), Aaron Pinches (Moseley)
Bridgend Ravens
In: Will Baird (Cardiff Blues), Emyr Williams (Neath), Dale Rogers (Newport), Huw Wilkes (Bedwas), Iestyn Merriman (Bridgend Ath)
Out: Ben Jones (Aberavon), Jon Thomas (Aberavon), Ashleigh James (Pontypridd), James Dixon (Bedwas), Andrew Waite (Bedwas), Adam Williams (Bedwas), Mitchell Auger (Bedwas), Owen Howe (Cross Keys), Gary Carpenter (Cross Keys), Chris Williams (Cardiff)
Cardiff
In: Mark Breeze (Blues), Chris Williams (Bridgend), James Thomas (Neath), Ben Thomas (Aberavon)
Out: Bruce Douglas (retired), Will Baird (Bridgend)
Carmarthen Quins
In: Nathan Williams (Moseley), Dale Ford (Neath), Josh Middleton (Kidwelly).
Out: Rhodri Wells (Swansea), Rory Gallagher (Swansea), Aidan Laxton (Bedwas), Javad Sebastian (Glasgow), Sion Bennett (Northampton), Dion Jones (Llanelli), Jason Harries (London Scottish).
Cross Keys
In:Â Ieuan Jones (Ospreys), James Davies (Neath), Owen Howe (Bridgend), Gary Carpenter (Bridgend), Josh Prosser (Bargoed)
Out: James Cordy-Redden (England 7s), Jack Condy (Llanelli / Scarlets), Kristian Baller (Pontypool)
Ebbw Vale
In: Ian George (Newbridge), Luke Crocker (Pontypridd), Dominic Franchi (Newport), Steffan Jones (Wales 7s), Chris Levesley (Cardiff Met),Ethan Doyle (Old Redcliffians)
Out: Rhys Downes (Merthyr), Gareth Williams (Merthyr), Gareth Rusby-Davies (Pontypool), John Lavender (Newport), Wes Cunliffe (Newport), Carl Meyer (Dragons)
Llandovery
In: Jack Maynard (Bedwas), Stuart Worrall (Narberth), Will Thomas (Cardiff)
Out: James Garland (Aberavon), Richard Williams (Llanelli), Tom Kaijacks (Llanelli), Ian Brooks (Swansea)
Llanelli
In: Richard Williams (Llandovery), Jack Condy (Cross Keys), Dion Jones (Carmarthen Quins), Tom Kaijacks (Llandovery), Andy Spowart (Tata Steel), Elliot Dawe (Felinfoel), Paul Davies (Swansea), Josh Guy (Swansea Univ), Jack Jones (Rovigo), Connor Salter (Bonymaen), Trystan Lloyd (Lampeter).
Out: Craig Price (Neath), Roy Jones (Neath), Darran Harris (Rotherham), Richard Thomas (Swansea); Jonny Lewis (Waunarlwydd), Kyle Evans (Moseley)
Neath
In: Roy Jones (Llanelli), Craig Price (Llanelli), Jonathan Griffiths (Glynneath), Aled Morris (Pontypridd)
Out: James Thomas (Cardiff), Dale Ford (Carmarthen Quins), Luke Ford (Pontypool), Emyr Williams (Bridgend), James Davies (Cross Keys).
Newport
In: Wes Cunliffe (Ebbw Vale), John Lavender (Ebbw Vale), Spencer Gibson (Ebbw Vale), John Lavender (Ebbw Vale), Tom Piper (Llanharan)
Out: Andrew Brown (Merthyr), Dan Robinson (Pontypool), Dominic Franchi (Ebbw Vale), Dai Pattison (retired), Sam Waldron (retired), Andrew Quick (retired), Dale Rogers (Bridgend)
Pontypridd
In: Ceri Sweeney (Exeter Chiefs), Ashleigh James (Bridgend), Shaun O’Rourke (RGC)
Out: Simon Humberstone (Doncaster), Luke Crocker (Ebbw Vale), James Howe (Merthyr), Craig Locke (Merthyr), Aled Morris (Neath)
COACHING CHANGES
Aberavon: Lyndon Lewis (Backs Coach)
Bridgend: Michael Hook (Head Coach); Dean Ronan (Forwards Coach)
Carmarthen Quins: Paul Fisher (Head Coach)
Ebbw Vale: Nigel Davies (Head Coach)
Llandovery: Euros Lewis (Head Coach); Simon Davies (Backs Coach)
Neath: Gareth Llewellyn (Forwards Coach)
Newport: Craig Warlow (Head Coach); Tyron Morris (Forwards Coach)
