Neath play their first home game for a month when Pontypool visit The Lextan Gnoll (kick off 2.30pm) on Saturday.

The visit of Pontypool is always keenly anticipated and supporters are therefore advised to get to the ground early. The weather forecast is not great but this will not be a problem for spectators as The Gnoll is fully covered on three sides

Neath staged an impressive second-half rally at high-flying Newport last week in a 26-33 defeat but it will take an 80-minute performance if they are to topple Pontypool.

The team showed renewed energy under the new coaching pairing of Tim Ryan and Ryan Evans and the Welsh All Blacks’ starting line-up shows a number of changes.

Behind the scrum, winger Ryan Griffiths returns and centre Keiran Charles replaces Ryan Evans who suffered a knee injury last week. Up front, livewire hooker Chris Morris is away so Evan Kneath comes in at hooker while Jack Powell and Mason Morgan swap places. Cai Arnold starts at lock with Jacob Blackmore switching to the back row which is supplemented by Jordan Evans who comes in for his home town on permit from Llandovery.

Bryncoch wing Khalifa Al Maflahi who made his debut last week is on the replacements’ bench and is joined by Neath Athletic hooker Dylan Kelly who has recently appeared for Pontypridd.

Neath v Pontypool (Home)

15 Steff Williams; 14 Jon Bayliss, 13 Sean Wilcox, 12 Kieran Charles, 11 Ryan Griffiths ; 10 Kristian Jones, 9 Gruff Williams; 1 Jack Powell,  2 Evan Kneath, 3  Elis Hopkins; 4 Matthew Davies, 5 Cai Arnold; 6 Jacob Blackmore, 8 Taine Morgan, 7 Jordan Evans

Replacements – 16 Dylan Kelly, 17 Mason Morgan, 18 Tarik Dabeh, 19 Ioan Jones, 20 Gethin Tremlett, 21 Ellis Lewis, 22 Khalifa Al Maflahi, 23 Louis Rees

Referee – Mr. Gareth Newman (Abergavenny)

Forthcoming Fixtures

Saturday     April    6     Newport                                       Home          2.30pm

Saturday     April  13     Swansea                                       Away          2.30pm

Saturday     April 20     RGC                                              Home          2.30pm

Saturday     April  27     Carmarthen Quins                          Away          2.30pm –

Supporter Information

Ground entry is just £10 (Adults), Under-16’s FREE.

BUY TICKETS ONLINE HERE:
https://neathrfc.com/tickets/

• Turnstiles at the Town End will open at 1.15pm
• Programmes on sale inside the gates (only £2)
• Refreshments available inside the ground
• For the comfort of spectators, no dogs allowed (other than sight-assisting), and there is no smoking or vaping inside ground.

EASTER EGG APPEAL 2024