After a summer of hard graft on the training field and four successive wins in pre-season friendlies Bedwas RFC are ready for the challenge of the new Principality Premiership.

First up on Saturday 1st September (2-30pm kick-off) we welcome our friends from Pontypridd RFC who as ever will present a formidable challenge.

Speaking at the Principality Premiership launch on Wednesday Head Coach Stefan Sankala said “We’ve worked hard throughout the summer like every club and we’re chomping at the bit to go. We are relishing the challenge as it’s absolutely new for everybody. It’s the defining year with relegation threatening and it could be an unforgiving start or we could be riding high.”

Stefan Sankala gives a league Bedwas debut to two players in the starting fifteen, they are winger Jordan Rees and back rower Jonny Armitage.  Armitage began his career in the Bedwas 2nd XV before playing at Senghenydd, Nelson and Bargoed, A further three players on the replacements bench could also make their Bedwas bows; Prop Sam Cochrane, centre or outside half Dion McIntosh and winger Kane Teear-Bourge.

Bedwas are boosted by the appearance of the Dragons’ back rower James Thomas who starts at blind-side flanker and we welcome James Sheehy from the Dragons as he begins his recovery from injury.

The full side is:

15. Mike Hathaway, 14. Dai Evans, 13. Mike Callow, 12. Adam Williams, 11. Jordan Rees, 10. Joe Scrivens, 9. Luke Crane; 1. Brynley Toms, 2. Alun Rees ©, 3. Rhys Hutcherson, 4. Craig Hudd, 5. James Richards, 6. James Thomas, 7. Jonny Armitage, 8. Nathan Hudd

Replacements:

16. Sam Cochrane, 17. Dale Rogers, 18. Chris Budgen, 19. James Sheekey, 20. Gareth Allen, 21. Tom Rowlands, 22 Dion McIntosh, 23. Kane Teear-Bourge.

Bedwas RFC Youth team are also in action as they travel to Chepstow (2-00pm kick-off). The full address of Chepstow RFC is:

Lower Weston Avenue, Bulwark, NP16 5NN for those who wish to support our youngsters.