Welsh international scrum-half Martin Roberts will make his competitive debut for Cardiff when he returns to the Principality Premiership for round one of the 2018/19 season.
The 32-year-old brings with him a wealth of experience playing professionally at the Ospreys, Scarlets, Northampton Saints, Bath and Bristol and joins a new-look squad at the Arms Park that kicks-off at home on Saturday, 1 September against the reigning champions Merthyr.
Rory Pitman and Morgan Allen feature in the back row and ex-Dragons prop Tom Davies is at loose head prop. Joe Gatt, at centre, and flanker Zach O’Driscoll, are new recruits from Bridgend Ravens, while Steffan Jones has joined from Bedwas.
Former Dragons, Blues and Edinburgh outside-half Jason Tovey has headed home from the Scottish capital to take over the No 10 jersey at Cross Keys, allowing Josh Prosser to return to his native Bargoed, while the new captain at Pandy Park is the ex-Scarlets, Exeter Chiefs and Blues lock Damien Welch.
Dragons flanker Nic Cudd will also start his season in the Keys pack when they host Bridgend, while Wales Sevens stalwart Adam Thomas will launch his latest 15-a-side campaign in the centre at new club Merthyr.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP TEAMS – ROUND 1
ABERAVON V SWANSEA
Aberavon: Jon Phillips; Matthew Jenkins, Will Price, Joe Gage, Chris Banfield; James Garland (captain), David Pritchard; Rhys Forse, Ieuan Davies, Chris Davies, Rhodri Hughes, Sam Williams, Jac Morgan, Luke Joseph, Joe Tomalin-Reeves
Reps: Jacob Flynn, Shaun Pearce, Liam Popham, Luke Davies, Lee Purnell, Jon Thomas, Geraint James, Rheon James
Swansea: Rhys Williams; Ryan Griffiths, Gareth Rees, Jake Randell, Nathan Trowbridge; Foard Cooksley, Joshua Guy; Tom Sloane, Sion Jones, Greg Cunniffe, Jon Fox (captain), Tudor Hughes, Jon Vaughan, Ben Davies, Duane Eager
Reps: Joshua Clark, Jack Powell, Tom Harper, Owen Morgan, Tom Ham, Owen Howe, Andrew Claypole
BARGOED V LLANDOVERY
Bargoed: Callum Jones; Duane Dyer, Barney Nightingale, Darren Humphries, Ashley Norton; Josh Prosser, Matt Bancroft; Rhys Morgan (captain), Rhys Buckley, Alex Gardner-Key, Geraint Edmunds, Grant Rogers, Josh Williams, Callum Davies, Ashley Gibson
Reps: James Hallett, Matt Billett, Jordan Howells, Alex Herbert, Lewis Johnson, Lewys Lippiatt, Mike Kavanagh, Nicky Thomas
Llandovery: Gavin Thomas; Richard Williams, Ryan Evans, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Lee Rees; Jamie Hughes, Ricky Guest, Berian Watkins, Jack Jones, Joe Powell, Shaun Miles, Stuart Worrall, Richard Brooks (captain)
Reps: Dexter Thomas, Dino Dallavalle, Jake Baker, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Matthew Moore, Lloyd Phillips, Kristian Jones, Scott Maynard
BEDWAS V PONTYPRIDD
Bedwas: Mike Hathaway; Dai Evans, Mike Callow, Adam Williams, Jordan Rees; Joe Scrivens, Luke Crane; Brynley Toms, Alun Rees (captain), Rhys Hutcherson, Craig Hudd, James Richards, James Thomas, Jonny Armitage, Nathan Hudd
Reps: Sam Cochrane, Dale Rogers, Chris Budgen, James Sheekey, Gareth Allen, Tom Rowlands, Dion McIntosh, Kane Teear-Bourgh
Pontypridd: Lloyd Rowlands; Alex Webber, Alex Knott, Dafydd Lockyer (captain), George Thomas; Ceri Sweeney, Huw Rees; Ian George, Geraint Clarke, Gareth Smith, Sean Moore, Chris Dicomidis, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Shellard, Morgan Sieniawski
Reps: Joel Raikes, Jordan Rees, Gary Williams, Huw Dowden, Ross Morgan, Lloyd Evans, Huw Owen, Joe Popple
CARDIFF V MERTHYR
Cardiff: Gareth Thompson; Morgan Griffiths, Joe Gatt, Will Rees-Hole, Matthew Powell; Steffan Jones, Martin Roberts; Thomas Davies, Joey Tomlinson (captain), Peter Lloyd, Kieran Martin, James Murphy, Morgan Allen, Zach O’Driscoll, Rory Pitman
Reps: Ramaz Rukhadze, Ian Jenkins, Ross Davies, Nathan Smith, Tom Daley, Luke Crocker, Nicky Griffiths, Adam Jones
Merthyr: Matthew Jarvis; Jay Baker, Adam Thomas, Arron Pinches, Teri Gee; Richard Powell, Justin James; Nathan Trevett, Rhys Williams, Joe Rees, Craig Locke (captain), Paddy McBride, Nick White, Osian Davies, Phil Rees
Reps: Matt Dwyer, James Howe, Louis Jones, Kris Smith, James Thomas, Adam Hoskins, Gareth Davies, Kyle Evans
CARMARTHEN QUINS V NEWPORT
Quins: Aled Thomas; Dylan Morgans, Nick Reynolds, Josh Batcup, Matthew John; Jac Wilson, Liam Davies; Gethin Robinson, Torin Myhill, Connor Allen, Shaun Jones, Haydn Pugh (captain ), Ed Siggery, Ellis Lloyd, Lewis Millin
Reps: Steff Phillips, Thomas Ball, Carwyn Francis, Lee Taylor, Gethin Davies, Steff Marshall, Scott Lloyd, Dale Ford
Newport: Elliot Frewen; Harri Lang, Tom Pascoe, Chay Smith, Jon Morris; Matt O’Brien, Ryan James; Dan Preece, Henry Palmer, Tom Piper, Joe Bartlett, Rynard Landman, Josh Skinner, Kyle Taylor, Rhys Jenkins (captain)
Repss: Evan Whitson, Lewis Smout, Garin Harris, Josh Reid, Mathew Reed, Geraint Watkins, Matt McGovern, Tom Lucas
CROSS KEYS V BRIDGEND
Cross Keys: Leon Andrews; Wes Cunliffe, Declan Williams, Jarryd Sage, Rory Budina; Jason Tovey, Owain Leonard; Corey Hewlett, Rhydian Jenkins, Richard Cornock, Damien Welch (captain), Tom Lampard, Lee Evans, Nic Cudd, Todd James
Reps: Connah Vaughan, Scott Evans, Gary Carpenter, Harvey Reader, Joe Carlin, Ben Snell, Morgan Evans, Dylan Fidler
Bridgend: Tyler Williams; Aaron Grabham, Stuart Ellis, Nathan Edwards (captain), Will Holley; Jamie Murphy, Chris Williams; Rhodri Apsee, Gareth Harvey, Cai Lewis, Chris John, James Little, Jack Pope, Adam O’Driscoll, Tom Morgan
Reps: Iestyn Merriman, Ollie Evans, Neil Elworthy, Matthew John, Aled Evans, Dan James, Ryan Evans, Morgan Jones
LLANELLI V EBBW VALE
Llanelli: Leon Randell; Kalum Evans, Oliver Reyland, Jonny Lewis, Liam Smith; Ashley Sutton, Gareth George; Dylan Lawley, Lewis Roberts, Tom James, Matthew Davies, Ashleigh Hyndman, Chris Long, Lloyd Pike, Nathan Hart
Reps: Elgan Lewis, Callum Williams, Adam Thomas, Elliot Rees, Joel James, Josh Weeds, Lewis Williams, Ben Atkins
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Steff Thomas, Carl Meyer, Dom Franchi, Toby Fricker; Rhys Jones, Matthew Flanagan; Joel Harries, Rhys Francis, Rob Sevenoaks, Kristian Parker, Ashley Sweet, Ronny Kynes (captain), Owen Young, Lewis Young
Reps: Lewis Kinsella, Ross Jones, Curtis Hicks, Lance Randall, Cameron Regan, Dai Jones, Garin Price, Paul King
RGC1404 V NEATH
RGC: Dion Jones; Sam Jones, Rhys Williams, Danny Cross, Iolo Evans; Billy McBryde, Efan Jones; Joe Simpson, Evan Yardley (captain), Sam Wainwright, Bryn Jones, Robin Williams, Andrew Williams, Mei Parry, Tim Grey
Reps: Curtis Reynolds, George Roberts, Joel Ringer, Dan Owens, Ilan Rowlands, Nick Butterworth, Tom Hughes, Bailey Rae,
Neath: Ed Howley; Ian Ellis, Mike Evans, Aaron Bramwell, Alec Jenkins; Iwan Evans, Chris Morgans; Luke Garrett, Darren Hughes, Liam Tobias, Jon Barley, Scott Andrews (captain), Elis Hopkins, Jordan Collier, Ieuan Jones
Reps: Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Tyla Murvai, Ryan Bean, Aled Cockwell, Scott Gibson, Dan Guarneri, Gavin Evans