Following their impressive 59-nil win over battling Cambrian Welfare, Neath play their second warm-up fixture against more familiar rivals Swansea who visit The Gnoll on Thursday evening (kick off 7.15pm).

Neath and Swansea have been playing each other for a long time – this is the oldest recorded club fixture in Wales and dates back to the game’s origins in 1872.

Neath make several changes from the side which started against Cambrian Welfare as coaches Tim Ryan and Ryan Evans continue to run their eyes over the squad who have trained hard since the end of June.

Behind the scrum, Matthew Jenkins comes in on the wing with Nathan Orrells partnering Sean Wilcox at centre and Brychan Wood is back at scrum-half.

Forward changes see first starts for hooker Kian Jones and flanker Casey Williams  while loose head prop Mason Morgan, lock Matthew Davies and No.8 Morgan Kneath return. Flanker Ben Williams skippers the side.

Josh Clark, Josh Jones (Tonna), Elis Hopkins and Fergus Kneath are named on the bench after missing the Cambrian Welfare win as are half-backs Kayden Davies (Ystalyfera) and George Richards who has been playing for Maesteg Celtic and is the son of former Neath outside-half Luke Richards.

Coach Tim Ryan said, “We made a grand start last Friday, everybody was very pleased and that goes for coaches, players, management and supporters. Those who were not able to make it due to holidays or whatever missed a very pleasing show.

“Holidays affect selection again this week but we are looking to build on last week’s performance and develop our patterns. Work in progress still and Swansea will be a tough challenge but these boys have genuinely put in a lot of effort and are raring to go again.”

Morgan Kneath is out of the Neath team due to a finger injury and is replaced at No.8 by Sam Gardner who was the Supporters’ Club ‘man of the match’ in last week’s 59-nil win over Cambrian Welfare.

Top international referee Mr. Ben Whitehouse is in charge and this Neath team will be looking to continue that bright start so come along to The Gnoll on Thursday.

Neath v Swansea (Home)

15 Steff Williams; 14 Matthew Jenkins, 13 Nathan Orrells, 12 Sean Wilcox, 11 Ryan Griffiths; 10 James Dixon, 9 Brychan Wood; 1 Mason Morgan, 2 Kian Jones,  3  Tarik Dabeh; 4 Matthew Davies, 5 Dan Watkins; 6 Ben Williams (captain), 8 Sam Gardner, 7 Casey Williams

Replacements (From) – Josh Clark, Josh Jones, Elis Hopkins, Jacob Blackmore, Fergus Kneath, Kayden Davies, George Richards, Ki Morgan, Llewellyn Hawkes

Referee – Mr. Ben Whitehouse (Gowerton)

Forthcoming Fixtures

Friday        August        30     Talywain                               Home          7.15pm

Saturday     September  7      Merthyr                                Home          2.30pm

Supporter Information

• Admission : Adults £5, Under-16’s FREE
• Turnstiles at the Town End will open at 6.30pm
• Programmes on sale inside the gates (only £2) with lots of summer news and information – so don’t miss your copy !
• Refreshments available inside the ground from our new outlet – the Tuck Shop
• For the comfort of spectators, no dogs allowed (other than sight-assisting), and there is no smoking or vaping inside ground.

Season Tickets

These will be on sale at half-time in the Main Stand below the Press Box where Matty Young will be on hand to collect bank and cash payments.