Euros Evans

Super Rygbi Cymru Cup Holders Llandovery and SRC league champions Newport will contest this season’s Cup final after both emerged as winners from two tense semi-finals at the weekend.

Llandovery head coach Euros Evans believes the new Super Rygbi Cymru tournament will create players who are driven by long-term ambition – rather than a short-term dash for cash. Evans – who has turned The Drovers into the best club side underneath regional level – admits the new salary cap will mean players will not be making much money from the semi-professional game.

It has been 20 years since Newport last won what is now the Indigo Premiership title and Ty Morris’ men are 80 minutes away from bridging that gap when they head to Church Bank to face reigning champions Llandovery on their own patch. The ‘Class of 04’ won 27 and drew another of their 30 matches to finish 12 points clear of Neath in the table. Dan Griffiths scored 326 points during the season and Craig Richards scored 30 tries, while Llandovery finished one off the bottom.

Llandovery are the best rugby team in Wales outside of the regional structure and they can prove that status once more this weekend. With none of the four regions in action – having long ago departed the scene of European competition – it gives a welcome opportunity in Wales to shine a light on what else is going on.

Llandovery skipper Jack Jones claims the Drovers have their sights firmly set on retaining their Indigo Premiership title as they head into Saturday’s play-off semi-final showdown against Cardiff at Church Bank (5.15pm kick off). Coach Euros Evans’ men made history by finishing top of the Premiership standings for the first time after running in nine tries to cruise to a 62-13 home win over Bridgend in their final regular league match.

Aaron Wainwright can put his feet up this weekend – a well deserved break for a player who has just played his 100th match for the Dragons. The Wales back row forward gets a rare weekend off as all four of the Welsh regions have a free pass following a busy festive period that culminated with the Welsh derby games on New Year’s Day.

Swansea could be in the mood to party like it’s 1999 as they made the last four of this season’s WRU Premiership Cup with a 27-16 victory over Ospreylian rivals Bridgend Ravens at St Helen’s. The Whites have enjoyed past success in the cup in its various former guises as three-time winners, but it was 24 years ago they last won the cup as they beat then Swalec Cup holders Llanelli at Ninian Park.

A 36-13 win at Bridgend may have taken reigning Indigo Premiership champions Llandovery back to the top of the table, but head coach Euros Evans is preparing for the pressure to be turned up this month. Pontypool head to Church Bank on Saturday and are bang in form having won seven matches in a row, while Newport are the visitors a fortnight later.

Llandovery will kick-off the defence of their Indigo Premiership title at the home of arch-rivals Carmarthen Quins as the tournament launches with a series of local derbies. While the Drovers head to Carmarthen Park on Saturday, Cardiff head up the A470 to face Pontypridd at Sardis Road, Swansea will host Bridgend and Aberavon will welcome Neath to the Talbot Athletic Ground.

It’s not just the Rugby World Cup that is on the near horizon. Before the tournament starts in France, the domestic season in Wales kicks-off and that means a new Indigo Premiership campaign which begins on September 2. Some new clubs, but they are old and very familiar faces as Mark Orders reports.

Llandovery scrum-half Lee Rees described his team as “relentless” after their dominant 24-8 win over favourites Cardiff in the Indigo Premiership final. It is the first time in their history that the Drovers have been champions at this level, but they thoroughly derserved their 24-8 triumph against a Cardiff side who had finished ahead of them in the regular season.

Reigning champions Cardiff will host Llandovery in the Indigo Premiership final on Sunday, 21 May after they both used home advantage to win their semi-finals. At the Arms Park, Cardiff beat Newport 21-7, while at Church Bank, Llandovery overcame Merthyr 16-13.