Super Rygbi Cymru is here.

The WRU’s new format for the semi-professional game in Wales promises so much and has a lot riding on it.

The new league of 10, three fewer than in last season’s Welsh Premiership has been at times controversial but also offers huge opportunities.

Let’s start with the champions. Llandovery won the Welsh Premiership last season, finishing top of the league, also winning the cup before beating Newport 14-7 in the play-off final at Church Bank.

Fly-half Ioan Hughes said his side have “a target” on their backs having won two league titles on the trot.

“The final was a tight game against Newport, the two best sides throughout the year going head-to-head,” says Hughes.

“Going into next season, it’s a strange feeling, not knowing what to expect with the new competition. We’ve gained some players but lost some too. The likes of club captain Jack Jones and defence coach Tom Hancock will be huge shoes to fill but the majority of the squad is staying together.

“I think next year will be more competitive, Bridgend, Swansea, Cardiff and RGC have all signed well and with fewer games, every win is that bit more valuable.”

Hughes is 26 and will be trying to bring through Drovers’ young 10s to realise their full potential.

“The hope is this league helps to bring through those youngsters or the players who have just missed out on regional contracts,” says Hughes.

“We had some exciting young players at the club last season who all did really well. Jac Davies our full back is back training after breaking his leg tail-end of last season, Harri Thomas was our young player of the year and there are more coming through.

“Macs Page is probably the blueprint for what the league is trying to achieve. Had a run of games pre-Christmas and then after the U20 Six Nations, he came back a completely different player.

“One of head coach Euros Evans’ big strengths is to get a good blend of experienced players within the team so the youngsters aren’t exposed too early. Last season, if Macs was playing in the centres, he was with Rhodri Jones or Adam Warren, in the back three he could learn from Jack Maynard or Aaron Warren.

“It’s a good place to develop.”

Giving Young Guns The Chance To Fire

The increased focus on youngsters will be music to the ears of the likes of Iwan Johnes who has signed for beaten finalists Newport after finishing his degree at Swansea University.

While he admits to having “a few nerves” going into a “different environment”, he has been enjoying the experience of semi-pro rugby.

“Pre-season has been good, all the positive things I’ve heard about Newport in the past are definitely true,” says Johnes.

“The biggest thing I’ve noticed is the detail. Event at Newport where they want to play an expansive style there are clear instructions and details on how deep, tight and where you want to play.

“The other obvious difference is the size and physicality of the players. At youth or university levels you might have one or two big guys, here everyone is quicker, faster, stronger and the collisions as a result are all bigger.”

Johnes, like new teammates Jac Lloyd, Iwan Pyrs Jones and Ioan Davies, is a product of Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf’s academy. While some teammates such as Jac’s brother Ioan have gone into the pro ranks, others have stepped away from rugby completely.

“WRU’s problem is the people who don’t make it first time, who drop out of rugby,” says Johnes.

“For us, it’s important we’ve still got that hunger for the game. A lot of my friends have dropped out of the game because of the commitment. Super Rygbi Cymru [SRC] will only benefit us, giving us more game time at a senior level.

“You look at someone like Ben Gregory who has been with Aberavon and is then training with Ospreys, these are the opportunities available if people impress and want to prove themselves at the highest level.

“SRC is exciting. 10 years ago, the Prem was a bit dull with 36 and 37-year-olds dominating squads. It’s imperative to have some older players to learn from but having teams full of older players made the league a bit slow.”

New Tournament, Old Traditions

This year may be Johnes’ first at Newport, but the club is also marking an important anniversary.

“This season is our 150th year, a big year for the club,” says Johnes.

“We’ve got our own commemorative 150th year jerseys which are amazing. There’s so much history to the club and it’s a massive part of the community so we’ll do what we can, train as hard as we can so we can go for the title.

“I had a couple of opportunities but the chance to be right at the top end of the SRC is exciting.

“I’ll be playing with players who I feel can improve me like Matt O’Brien and then people like Harri Ackerman dropping down to play with us too and it’s an exciting opportunity to go toe-to-toe with a full-time pro.”

Experienced Coaches

Speaking of full-time professionals, Bridgend Ravens’ forwards coach Bradley Davies knows a thing or two about the professional game. Davies won 66 caps for his country, along with more than 100 appearances for Cardiff Blues, plus spells at Wasps and Ospreys.

Last season Bridgend finished outside of the play-offs in ninth, however the arrival of SRC offers a fresh start.

“Last season, there was a massive gulf in what other teams were paying players,” says Davies.

“With the salary cap in for this season, hopefully that has levelled the playing field a bit.

“We’ve had a lot of young players come in ahead of the season, players who believe they can still have a future in professional rugby and rightly so.

“Also changes in coaching staff. Scott Baldwin in as head coach and Nipper [Mathew Morgan] in as skills coach.

“Baldwin is an enthusiastic coach, who probably had four years left playing and made the difficult decision to go into coaching. He had a tough 12 months at Newcastle, but he will have learnt a lot there.”

For Davies, the first priority is to change Bridgend’s mindset from “plucky losers to out and out winners.”

“We now have a new training venue with a 4G pitch in Tondu,” says Davies.

“Start of last season there was a lot of rain, and we couldn’t train. It all became a bit disjointed, but we don’t have any excuses anymore.

“Last season, there was a bit of an ‘us vs them’ attitude with Swansea when they received academy players from Ospreys and we didn’t, this season we will all have assigned players from the region which levels the playing field.”

Change For Many

With Pontypridd and Merthyr both choosing not to be a part of Super Rygbi Cymru, it has led to a host of players moving clubs to pursue careers at the highest level of the Welsh community game.

While Bridgend have welcomed the likes of fly-half Ben Burnell from Ponty, it is something Davies looks upon with a tinge of regret.

“Personally, I’m gutted Pontypridd are not in SRC,” says Davies.

“A lot of good players have joined us from there but they’re too big a club not to be in the league. I remember watching Ponty v South Africa and Chief – Dale McIntosh – winning man of the match in a game without touching the ball.”

Alongside Burnell, Bridgend have “significantly changed their squad profile” signing several “enthusiastic” young players.

“We’ve signed some very good young backs ahead of the new season,” Davies adds.

“Harvey Nash is a very exciting prospect; Ryan Wilkins is a centre who has had some big injuries; Kyle Harris, in the forwards, who has carried well in pre-season and has every attribute I like in a forward; as well as Barnaby Waddell and Evan Hill.

“Hill came from Ospreys and unfortunately missed on Wales U20s through injury. He’s one of the guys I’d pay to watch, an old oak of a second row.

“The exciting thing now is that when I played and we had injuries, we’d sign players on loan or on short-term contracts from across the border but now with the financial issues at the regions we need to look within.

“The mindset for them all is if they’re playing well for Bridgend then they can get an opportunity in professional rugby.”

---

If you want to read more pieces from Sportin Wales, why not read to our monthly magazine here or subscribe to the magazine and newsletter at https://sportin.wales/subscribe/.

You can also keep track of our pieces on our socials at @Sportin_Wales on X, Sportin Wales on Instagram and Facebook.