Sir Stan Thomas has provided much of the impetus and money to help push his home-town team from Division 1 East into the Premiership. His chief guest on the debut of the Ironmen in the Premiership will be his brother, Peter, who is chairman of Cardiff Blues.
Both men will be firmly in different camps and, both teams having got their seasons off to winning starts last weekend, something will have to give. The two clubs first met in January, 1877, but this is the first tie they have both been in the same league.
Merthyr, the 2016 WRU Championship winners, triumphed at Cross Keys on their debut in the top tier, while Cardiff beat arch-rivals Newport. There are plenty of ex-Cardiff Blues men on the Merthyr side to add extra spice to the fixture. Outside half Gareth Davies and No 8 Andy Powell are two of the higher profile examples, while both head coach Lee Jarvis and forwards coach Dale McIntosh have strong links to the Arms Park.
The game is now viewed as a ‘Blues derby’ and Cardiff have picked a strong side. While Merthyr have made two changes to the side that won at Pandy Park, new wing Man Kyle Evans and centre Gavin Dacey coming into the back line, the visitors have drafted in American international Cam Dolan at No 8 and ex-All Black lock Jarrad Hoeata to bolster their pack.
Wales Under 20 prop Dillon Lewis starts in the front row and Blues scrum half Lewis Jones joinsanother of the Wales Under 20 Grand Slammers of last season, Jarrod Evans, at half back. Aled Summerhill replaces James Beal on the wing.
Pontypridd’s re-run of last season’s final against Ebbw Vale has been re-scheduled while work on the Sardis Road pitch is completed, while Newport host Bedwas on Sunday. That game will feature a return to action for Dragons international Tom Prydie in Bedwas colours, while Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt lines-up for the Black & Ambers.
Carmarthen Quins host Llanelli in a Scarlets regional derby, with both teams having won on the opening weekend. Llanelli downed the champions, Ebbw Vale, while the Quins went to Swansea to put a dampener on the Whites’ return to the Premiership.
Mark Jones’ RGC1404 side make another lng trek south to face Neath, but having won at Bridgend last week they won’t mind hitting the road again – especially as they notched a famous Swalec Cup victory there two seasons ago.
Neath finished rock bottom last season, but the signs are that head coach Gareth Llewellyn has turned the team around since arriving less than a year ago. He was thrilled at the 13-10 win at Bargoed.
“The score-line should probably have favoured us more, but one win does not make us super-heroes. We need to follow it up with another,” said Llewellyn.
“We are a young, developing group and there is a lot more to come. A win over RGC will mean a lot, although they are obviously no mugs having beaten Bridgend last week and last year they beat Aberavon in the Cup.”
Neath scrum half Chris Morgans will make his 100th appearance, while Gareth Morris returns at full back to allow Ed Howley to switch to wing. Neil White and Aled Morris pck down in the front row.
Bridgend are at home again this weekend, this time hosting Cross Keys. Morgan Jones and Jamie Murphy make up a new midfield for the Ravens and the influential Joe Scrivens has revered from his knock against RGC to partner Will Baird at half back.
The two teams met three times last season with Keys completing the hat-trick. Keys head coach Greg Wods has made five changes from the side beaten by Merthyr with Tom Lampard and Simon Williams forming a new second row partnership.
Josh Skinner moves into the back row to replace Ieuan Jones, who drops to the bench along with Danny Hodge. In the backline Keys change the centre pairing with former skipper Leon Andrews returning to fitness to replace Lewis Barnett at outside centre and Barney Nightingale coming in for Phil Williams at inside centre.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP TEAMS, ROUND 2
Saturday, 10 September
Bridgend v Cross Keys
Bridgend: Marc Bennett; Ryan Griffiths, Morgan Jones, Jamie Murphy, Mike Powell; Joseph Scrivens, Will Baird; Nicky Boyce, Dale Rogers, Cai Lewis, Jonny Kenny, Jack Pope, Adam O’Driscoll, Zac O’Driscoll (captain), Ashton Evans
Reps: Lewis Francis, Iestyn Merriman, Rhodri Apsee, Kyle Evans, Matthew John, Chris Williams, Ryan Evans, Ryan Davies
Cross Keys: Ethan Davies; Mathew Powell, Leon Andrews, Barney Nightingale, Nathan Trowbridge; Josh Prosser, James Leadbeater; Lewis Smout, Darren Hughes, Richard Cornock, Tom Lampard, Simon Williams, Josh Skinner, Scott Matthews (captain), Adam Powell
Reps: Ellis Shipp, Corey Hewlett, Gary Carpenter, Danny Hodge, Ieuan Jones, Nathan Williams, Ross Pritchard, Jacob Unwin
Carmarthen Quins v Llanelli
Carmarthen Quins: Gavin Thomas; Lee Williams, Iolo Evans, Rhys Williams, Dylan Morgans; Steffan Marshall, Connor Lloyd; Gethin Robinson, Torin Myhill, Steffan Thomas, Ben Thompson, Haydn Pugh (captain), Ellis Lloyd, Will Boyde, Shaun Jones
Replacements: Nathan Williams, Rhodri Clancy, Javan Sebastian, Lee Taylor, Roy Osborn, Gareth George, Craig Evans, Kieran Jones
Llanelli: Dion Jones; Ioan Nicholas, Steffan Hughes, Johnny Lewis, Ashley Evans; Billy McBryde, Rhodri Cole; Dan Jacobs, Greg George, Will Taylor, Adam Powell (captain), Ben Davies, Trystan Lloyd, Nathan Hart, Morgan Allen
Reps: Tom Kaijaks, Matthew Moore, Simon Gardiner, Chris Long, Lloyd Pike, Matthew Flanagan, Ioan Hughes, Nathan Edwards
Llandovery v Bargoed
Llandovery: Lee Rees; Mike Evans, Richard Smith, Craig Woodall, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Rhodri Davies; Dean Howells, Emyr Phillips, Greg Cunniffe, Bryn Griffiths, Phil Day (captain), Stuart Worrall, Shaun Miles, Richard Rees
Reps: Scott Jenkins, Jamie Kaijaks, Jake Baker, Joe Powell, Dafydd Hughes, Rhodri Jones, Lex Botha, James Davies
Bargoed: Calum Jones; Ashley Norton, Darren Humphries, Lewis Protheroe, David Evans; Sam Withers, James Hallett; Rhys Morgan (captain), Ian Jenkins, Keiron Brown, Gavin McDonnell, Bryce Morgan, Adam Coupe, Steff Jouxson, Lee Beach
Reps: James Pizey, Phil Price, Lewis Hudd, Lewys Lippiett, Anthony Lott, Louis Blacker, Jack Williams, James Locke
Merthyr v Cardiff
Merthyr: Matt Jarvis; Kyle Evans, Gavin Dacey, Aaron Pincers, Terri Gee; Gareth Davies, Rhys Downes; James Howe, Rhys Williams, Thomas James, Craig Locke (captain), Ben Murphy, Ed Siggery, Osian Davies, Andy Powell
Reps: Louis Jones, Matt Dwyer, Nathan Buck, S L Hughes, Matthew Rees, T James, Matt Trowbridge, Dean Gunter
Cardiff: Rhun Williams; Ceri Young, Harri Millard, Luke Ford (captain), Aled Summerhill; Jarrod Evans, Lewis Jones; Rob Lewis, Joe Tomlinson, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, Jarrad Hoeata, Nick White, Luke Crocker, Cam Dolan
Reps: Rhys Carre, Joe Page, Ben Lueng, Jordan Viggers, Morgan Sienaiwski, Tom Slater, Gareth Thompson
Neath v RGC1404
Neath: Gareth Morris; Ed Howley, Gavin Evans, Keiran Williams, Alec Jenkins; Iwan Evans, Chris Morgans; Neil White, Aled Morris, Geraint James, Leon Ward, Jon Barley, Jordan Collier (captain), Alun Jones, Charlie Davies
Reps: Matt Jeffreys, Sion Crocker, Ryan Thomas, Lyndon Bateman, Aled Cockwell, Josh Guy, Dan Guarneri, Matthew Pearce
RGC1404: Afon Bagshaw; Carwyn Ap Myrddin, Tom Hughes, Tiaan Loots, Sam Jones; Jacob Botica, Alex Schwarz; Joe Simpson, Rhys Williams, Ross Davies, Maredydd Francis (captain), Andrew Williams, Mei Parry, Will Bryan, Huw Worthington
Reps: Jed Kirkin, Evan Yardley, Sam Wainwright, Rhun Morris, Tim Grey, Josh Leach, Rhys Williams, Richard Hopkins
Swansea v Aberavon
Swansea: Josh Jones; Richard Williams, Jedd Evans, Josh Martin, Andrew Rees Spowart; Jac Wilson, Matthew Aubrey; Dan Kenny, Paul John, Mitchell Walsh, Gavin Ronan, Tudor Hughes, Jon Vaughan (captain), Jack Perkins, Jon Fox
Reps: Ricky Guest, Fenton Holder, Sam Martin, Adam Thresher, Mike Sully, Rhodri Wells, Julian Mogg, Dai Watts
Aberavon: Joe Gage; Richard Carter, Will Price, Rheon James, Stef Andrews; Steffen Williams, David Pritchard; Rowan Jenkins, Ieuan Davies, Alex Jeffries, James Ratti, Sam Williams, Luke Joseph, Chris Davies, Joe Tomalin-Reeves
Reps: Jacob Flynn, Joe Thomas, Matthew Jacobs, Gareth Harvey, Nathan Brown, Rhys Forse, Jon Thomas, Ben Jones
Sunday, 11 September
Newport v Bedwas
Newport: Geraint O’Driscoll; Ashton Hewitt, Tom Riley, Tom Pascoe, Elliot Frewen; Arwel Robson, Owen Davies; Reuben Tucker, Kyle Tayler, Craig Attwell, Dan Partridge, Rhodri Jones, Garin Harris, Henry Palmer, John Lavender
Reps: Tom Piper, Keagan Bale, Matt Prosser, Adam Brown, Brendan Lampitt, Luc Jones, Matt O’Brien, Chay Smith
Bedwas: Aaron Bramwell; Tom Prydie, Connor Edwards, James S Dixon, Pat Lewis; Richard Powell (captain), Nicky Griffiths; Dan Preece, Alun Rees, Matthew Pettit, Robson Blake, Joe Davies, Andrew Waite, George Lee, James Benjamin
Reps: Brynley Toms, Jack Haines, Rhys Hutcherson, Rhys Verley, James Richards, Luke Crane, Adam Williams, Phillip Pariyo
