With the third instalment of Super Rygbi Cymru just hours away from kicking off, all of the club’s were asked to assess the squads they have assembled for the season ahead.
They were then asked to provide names of players to look out for this season – and needless to say they sprung one or two surprises along the way.
Chris Davies: Aberavon – head coach
“We have assembled a very competitive squad for the season ahead – we’ve made wholesale changes from last season’s team. We have more depth now and there is more opportunity for the boys to fight for the shirt.
Player to watch
I think we have a fair few this season to be fair. Guys like Rhys Thomas and Brad Roderick have a couple of seasons behind them now. We have signed back row Freddie Stevens from Hartpury and Wales U20 fly half Steff Jac Jones who is on a dual contract with the Ospreys – all very exciting players
Scott Baldwin: Bridgend head coach
Highly competitive – I believe if we can get our backline out on the pitch with everyone fit we will have one if not the best backlines in the league this year. We’re looking at playing Ryan Conbeer as a 13 where he compliments Ryan Wilkins – who I believe is an exceptional player. Over the last two years when he has been on the pitch, he was the best player in the league. A lot of our players last year were quite new to this level, they now have 20 to 25 games more experience so I‘m excited to see how they go.
Player to watch
Mckenzie Scales at hooker as he has international rugby as a ceiling and Ben Evans – a young 19-year-old winger who I am really looking forward to seeing playing.
Dan Fish: Cardiff head coach
Pretty much the same team going in as last season – we’ve recruited Barry Fry and Louis Fletcher, ex Wales U20 player and signed two hookers but the make-up of the side is majority of the same. We’re fortunate to be in that position where the senior boys can drop down and as you’ve seen by the league’s standings over the last two years it works for us. Players have come through the pathway to represent Wales and the senior team so it seems to be working.
Player to watch
Osian Darwin-Lewis – he has been with Wales U20s over the last two years – he has been in the senior environment all year so he’ll hopefully come down to us when he isn’t in the senior team and I really think he will flourish this year. I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets a regional call-up this season.
Steff Thomas: Carmarthen Quins director of rugby/strong>
We’re hoping the squad this year is a good mixture of bright young talent and some experience. If we can get that out on the field it is a really exciting prospect. We’ve got some youngsters coming through again this year who will be hoping to add value and wanting to break through.
Player to watch
Someone who hopefully will play a lot for us this year will be Madoc Evans. He is a young player coming through and has taken pre-season by storm. We also think centre Jayden Brown is going to be a real exciting talent.
Ieuan Probert: Ebbw Vale assistant coach
I think we have tried to cover all areas as we’re trying to play an all-court game. In the past we have largely been a forward dominated side but we have the ability to play a bit out wide with our backs.
Player to watch
A young second row I’m expecting big things from is Alfred Bateman Lloyd – I am expecting him to really kick on. This will be his second year in with us and I really think he can go on to bigger and better things. He is a very good line-out operator, and he has plenty of composure. He was named the Ebbw Addicts Most Promising Player for his breakout 2025/26 campaign.
Euros Evans: Llandovery head coach
New and established – we had some players who have departed, Lee Rees our captain from last year has left but we still have a bit of experience and have some young players coming in who can take over.
Player to watch
Young Jac Pritchard – as a tighthead prop they don’t get the plaudits sometimes but he had a great U20s world cup and we are going to give him plenty of game time this year so hopefully he will get across to the Scarlets sooner rather than later.
Tyron Morris: Newport head coach
I think we have recruited heavily up front so look very strong in regards to that. The last year or two there is no hiding the fact we have had some aging players – Matt O’Brien, Jonny Morris and a couple of others so we’ve had to recruit young – behind the scrum we are looking young so we have a good balance in the whole squad so I’m excited to see how the season goes.
Player to watch
Brogan Leary – I’ve seen his growth and development in 12 months accelerate like no-one else. He is already an athletic specimen, but he is now showing some really good game management, his skills are looking good, he is potentially in my opinion a Welsh international.
Tom Hancock: Pontypool head coach
A good blend of pace and power, youthful exuberance meshed with some experience. We’ve gone very local which was very important to us to try and create a Gwent-centric team. It is important to us at Pontypool to represent our community – we tried to get a balance of people who are coming out of the pro game who have got those habits and behaviours we are after. We’ve also got boys who have fallen through the cracks in the usual system and given them an opportunity further down the chain. They are hungry and have a point to prove and are just excited to get going.
Player to watch
Caio Parry – he scored 14 tries for RGC last year, playing an expansive game of rugby which suited him and now he has deservedly got the opportunity with a dual contract with the Dragons and ourselves and I just think if he continues to develop on the trajectory he is on the world is his oyster.
Joe Thomas: Swansea head coach
Exciting, young and dynamic with a blend of experience mixed in – I think that is the demographic of the league. Guys like Matt Prothero and Luke Price can really drive the younger boys forwards.
We had some really good wins last season when we overcome adversity so the main thing for us this season will be consistency and understanding the context of the game and managing game management.
Player to watch
Sam Morgan – the young back row from the Ospreys. He sort of came under the radar a bit last season before making the Wales U20 squad. He is very physical and very explosive and knows where the try-line is so really excited at having him on board.
Alun Pritchard: RGC general manager
We’re a young side and probably haven’t got a massive squad depth but we are going to try and play an exciting brand of rugby as we always do.
Player to watch
A young player to look out for would be Jac Williams on the wing, he played for Wales U18 last year. Scored some wonderful tries against France and is a great prospect. Looking at a more established player someone who is a real work horse for us is Dafydd Thirsk who came to us from RGC Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon, where was captain.