The heavyweight clash of the titans sees last season’s inaugural SRC champions Newport hosting the Drovers – the last winners of the old Welsh Premiership two seasons ago – first up, as they bid to open the defence of their title with a victory.
The game at Newport Stadium is also the first of S4C’s televised offerings of the season.
The Black and Ambers were crowned champions of SRC after defeating Gwent rivals Ebbw Vale, 27-18, at Eugene Cross Park in May’s Grand Final, with the triumph also capping their 150th anniversary season in the most memorable way possible.
It was in stark contrast to 12 months earlier when they suffered the gut-wrenching disappointment of defeat at the hands of Llandovery in the Premiership Final.
Victory for Ty Morris’ men on Friday night over perennial challengers Llandovery would set down a marker for the new season.
Including the play-off games at the end of last season, Newport are currently on a seven-game winning streak.
Llandovery, though, have been victorious in all three previous meetings between the two sides.
Following the Premiership Final triumph, Euros Evans’ side came out on the winning side in both league meetings last season.
“We do kind of owe them one!” said Newport No. 8 Roach, who has been an influential figure since arriving in 2021 and is about to start his third season leading the side as captain.
“Having lost to them twice last year we want to get that one up – and just to start our season on a good footing.”
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“They’re the cup winners from last season, we’re the trophy winners; two of the top teams going head-to-head in the opener on a Friday night at Newport Stadium – you can't really ask for much more.”
Roach and co. are ready to go again after the high of their glory last season which although seemed like it was written in the stars in their 150th anniversary season, also came from a lot of hard work and motivation to go one better after final heartache the season before, according to Roach.
“There was that bit between our teeth,” he continued.
“Losing against Llandovery was very bitter and very hard to take.
“But from the anguish of losing that final, to wanting to and knowing we could do more, and to turn that around and being able to finish the season so well and actually come away with the title was amazing.
“It was a challenge and a goal we obviously set out, so to be able to come out of that and achieve it was excellent for us.
“Yeah, things aligned, but obviously there was a lot of hard work that went into it as well from the boys to make it happen.
“There was a lot of emotion in it as well, with our president Brian ‘BJ’ Jones passing away, which gave us a lot of fire to finish well and we felt like we put that in the right place to come out on top.
“To finish it the way we did, with a good run of games towards the end of the season and to cap off the 150th year, it was amazing.”
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Meanwhile, having won back-to-back Premiership titles in 2023 and 2024, Llandovery will be gunning for the SRC crown this time around, having lost out to Ebbw Vale in agonising fashion 29-28 in the semi-finals at Eugene Cross Park last season.
The Drovers were left kicking themselves having led 21-5 at the pause, only for the Steelmen to storm back in what was the proverbial game of two halves to leave the west Walians stunned.
“It was one of them that got away,” said Llandovery skipper Lee Rees, who scored one of his side’s tries in that semi.
“I did reflect on it quite a bit [during the close season]. Credit where it’s due, Ebbw came out second half and went back to their roots and I think they deserved it in the end.
“But going off the first half and the sort of lead we had, I really think we really blew it and it was a tough one to take.”
Talisman scrum-half Rees, 34, will lead Llandovery at Newport Stadium.
The stalwart, who has served the club with distinction over 16 years, took over the captaincy 12 months ago when Jack Jones was forced to retire on medical advice after a serious neck injury.
“I’m really looking forward to the new season,” said Rees ahead of their opener.
“I think the first year [of SRC] was a really big success, so I’m hoping this year brings a bit more.
“I've always really enjoyed playing Newport; they play a good brand of rugby, they like to play the same way we do, so it always tends to be a really good fast game, which I really enjoy.
“I think the pitch obviously at Newport is really good as well so hopefully the weather will be good and we should have a fast open game.”
After losing three of their first four games last season, Llandovery’s 30-28 win at Newport Stadium on 10 October was the catalyst for a nine-game winning run – and 12 games including the SRC Cup.
They did not lose another league match until March, while later that month they lifted the inaugural SRC Cup with a thumping 39-7 defeat of Ebbw Vale.
