A strong pool of front rowers is essential for the Championship campaign and Neath’s strength in this department has been supplemented by the recruitment of tight head STEFFAN JONES who comes in from Llangennech after showing promise in away games at Bedwas and Newport last season.

Unfortunately, he injured ankle ligaments at Rodney Parade and his season was ended but now he will join Ifan James, Gareth Wyn Lloyd, Liam Tobias and Ben Uphill in a formidable quintet of props with forwards coach Andrew Howell promising plenty of hard-scrummaging practice ahead of the season’s start.