It is back to the league for newly-crowned WRU Cup winners Neath who visit Cardiff Metropolitan in the WRU Premiership on Saturday (kick off 2.30pm).

To win the Cup, Neath had to dig deep to beat Merthyr (32-21) in Sunday’s final but history suggests that the game after the Cup final is always a big challenge – all the more so this time as the students are battling at the wrong end of the table.

The All Blacks shrugged off a string of injuries to win the Cup but the absentee-list has grown so there are a number of changes from last week’s starting line-up.

Steff Williams, ineligible for the final, returns at outside-half thereby prompting the return of Iestyn Morgan to full back and Luke Davies to centre alongside Aled Davies. Cup final hero Llewellyn Hawkes and Louis Rees are on the wings so Kaden Davies, another Cup final try-scorer, moves to his more accustomed scrum-half spot.

Up front, Kian Jones returns at hooker and is propped by Josh Jones and Mason Morgan. Matthew Davies pairs up with Josh Hughes at lock while Jordan Evans comes into the back row alongside Jacob Blackmore and Gethin Tremlett who will lead the side.

On the replacements’ bench, there are first opportunities for Baglan lock Brynley Thomas who has appeared for Aberavon and Morriston scrum-half Rhodri Jones.

Neath v Cardiff Metropolitan (Away)

15 Iestyn Morgan; 14 Llewellyn Hawkes, 13  Luke Davies, 12  Aled Davies, 11 Louis Rees; 10 Steff Williams, 9 Kaden Davies; 1 Josh Jones, 2 Kian Jones, 3 Mason Morgan; 4 Matthew Davies, 5 Josh Hughes; 6 Jordan Evans, 8 Jacob Blackmore, 7  Gethin Tremlett (captain)

Replacements – 16 Sion Jones, 17 Thomas Richards, 18  Marley Lovell, 19 Brynley Thomas, 20 Ben Williams, 21 Rhodri Jones, 22 Jon Bayliss, 23 Morgan Little

Referee – Mr. Matthew Leon (Cardiff)

Neath RFC – Remaining Fixtures

Saturday     April  25  Narberth                                              Away         2.30pm

Wednesday  April  29  Llangennech                                     Home        7.30pm

Saturday     May     9  Ystrad Rhondda                                 Away         2.30pm