Premiership champions Llandovery will be without last year’s captain and lock Jack Jones when they start off life in the new Super Rygbi Cymru semi-pro league at Pontypool on Thursday, September 12, writes Huw S Thomas.

The 31-year-old has been forced to retire from the game on medical advice, following a serious neck injury, sustained in the Premiership play-off semi final against Cardiff on May 4.

Scrum half Lee Rees, who captained the when Jones was injured, will now take over – fitting reward for his wonderful service to the club over some 15 years

In Jones’ absence, former Llandovery College lock Will Evans will be available to the club after getting a senior academy place with the Scarlets.

At 6’6” and 18 and a half stone, Evans - last year’s Wales U18 lock  - has huge potential and is highly rated by his former Llandovery College coach, ex-Wales flanker Nathan Thomas.

Also given a senior academy contract with the region is Amman United product Tiaan Sparrow who captained last year’s Scarlets U18 side to the Regional Age Grade tile and he will be linking up with Euros Evans, his old coach at Coleg Sir Gar.

Sparrow will derive much benefit as understudy to Stuart Worrall, one of the club’s greatest ever flankers who remains at Church Bank for one more year before retirement.

In the brave new world of Super Rygbi Cymru, Scarlets academy players Jac Davies, KianAbraham, Macs Page, Harry Thomas and Josh Morse look set play leading roles in Llandovery fortunes.

All five featured regularly and prominently in Premiership games last year and made vast improvement. Their availability is dependent on the region’s current needs and plans 

Academy fly half Steffan Jac Jones will also be attached to the Drovers for the coming season.

Back five player Lewis Ellis-Jones has rejoined and will be an important part of Llandovery plans.

Still only 25 years of age, he played 62 games for Llandovery 2016-2020 and turned out for Gloucester on permit when at Llandovery.

He returns after a gap of four years, during which time he was out of action from injury and also played for Swansea.

Former Ospreys wing Llien Morgan, another Wales U20 international, is an out and out sprinter who was Wales U17 200 metre champion.

The Cwmtwrch product has had limited opportunities since starring for Wales U20s in 2023 when he scored a try against Ireland and will add to the impressive clutch of players who can play wing at Church Bank.

Other signings of interest are former Llandovery lock Jake Baker who returns from Swansea and full back Morgan Meaclem who played for Merthyr against the Drovers in the WRU Cup final in April.

Former Ospreys U18 hooker Finn Evans, Brecon centre Tom Davies and Lampeter lock Harri Holden - an Old Breconian - will also be striving for places in the Llandovery set up.