Andy Powell’s side romped to the title last season with former Wales Under 20 cap Matthew Jarvis creating a club record 401 points in their superb Championship campaign. Now they will step into the top tier of non-regional rugby in Wales or the first time.
And to get them in shape for their latest challenge they will host English Championship side London Welsh on Saturday, 13 August in a warm-up game. They are also hoping to face either Edinburgh or Northampton Saints a week later.
Their final warm-up math will be against Swalec Championship side Tata Steel (a) on 27 August. The Ironmen will also feature in the Fosters Sevens at the BT Sport Arms Park on 28 August before launching their Premiership season on 3 September.
Premiership champions Ebbw Vale have secured the services of talismanic back row man Rony Kynes for a sixth season. Kynes was outstanding in the Steelmen’s march to the Premiership final against reigning champions Pontypridd at Sardis Road and picked up a trademark atch and drive drive in the final triumph.
Kynes won the Welsh Rugby Writers’ ‘Premiership Player of the Year’ award, the Ebbw Vale ‘Supporters’ Player of the Year’ crown and ended the season as the Principality Premiership’s top try scorer with a competition record 19.
The quiet man of the Ebbw Vale back row, Ethan Doyle, will also be returning for a second season and scrum half Tom Edwards will also be staying at Eugene Croww Park for the 2016/17 campaign. On the move, however, is outside half Iain Smerdon, who is returning to his ambitious home village side of Bedlinog, who will play in the Championship in the new season.
Former Rugby World Cup sevens winner Aled Thomas is joining the coaching team at Carmarthen Quins. The Scarlets outside half will be combining his playing duties with the Guinness PRO12 side with those of backs coach at his former club.
Thomas coached the Scarlets Under 18 attack last year and will be joined in his new role by another former Quins’ youngster, Thomas Marks. Carmarthen born and bred, Marks played professionally in England and France before working in the RFU academy system and then returning to Wales, where he is currently a Rugby Officer at Bro Dinefwr School.
The Quins, who reached the Swalec Cup final last season, have arranged three pre-season friendlies ahead of their Premiership campaign. They will host Newcastle Emlyn on Friday, 12 August before travelling to Blackheath on Saturday, 20 August. They complete their warm-up programme with a home match against Moseley at home on Saturday, 27 August.
Newly promoted RGC 1404 have lost the services of outside half James Lang. The 21-year-old former Scotland Under 18 and Wales Students player has joined Aviva Premiership side Harlequins on a two year contract.
A huge part of last season’s promotion push, qualified for Scotland through his Scottish mother, but grew up dreaming of playing for Wales thanks to his father, who hails from Penarth. A former academy player at London Irish and Harlequins, he is returning to the Twickenham Stoop after two seasons at Parc Eirias.
Another of the promoted sides, Bargoed, have re-signed their whole squad from last season and added 10 newcomers. Not all of them will be new to the club, Anthony Lott, Dai Evans, James Hallett and Alex Herbert having learned their rugby in the youth team. Joining them next season will be former Wales Sevens World Cup winner Lee Beach, Luke Dyckoff, Gavin McDonnell, Lewis Bowden, Sam Withers and James Lock.
Neath have signed Skewen full back Gareth Morris, who will join his brother Cameron at The Gnoll next season. Gareth, who helped Skewen win the Swalec Division 1 South West title last season, made a couple of summer friendly appearances for Neath prior to the 2014/15 season.
Cameron, meanwhile, has been impressing in New Zealand this summer. A first-choice centre for the Welsh Al Blacks, he has been playing in the South Island for the Athletic Marist club, in Oamaru, and has scored nine tries in 13 games to date, picking up three man of the match nominations.
That form has earned him a place in the North Otago squad and a tour to Canada ahead of the provincial side’s ITM Cup challenge. He is due back in Wales in October.
