After finishing an impressive fourth in the Principality Premiership this season, Bedwas RFC have been busy resigning the majority of this year’s squad.
Coach, Steve Law said: “We have made some quality signings, with the aim of increasing the squad size for the coming season, providing more depth and competition for places which creates the right environment to build for success.
“Our objective is to take us a step further and finish in a play-off position, which was agonisingly missed by the slimmest of margins this year.
“There is no time to cry over what might have been, we need to get up, dust ourselves down and rise to the challenge of another tough season.”
The players brought in to the squad include loose head prop Brinley Toms, Brinley who has been playing in the championship with Cardiff Met. He has a contract with Bedwas and will train full-time with the Dragons.
Also from Cardiff Met is back rower Ollie Edwards who will suit Bedwas with his no frills approach to the game.
Some other additions to the pack are second row Matthew Screech contracted to Bedwas and full-time training with the Dragons. He has been in the Blues system and should offer quality to Bedwas in the Premiership and hopefully forcing himself into the Dragons side during the season.
Hooker Richard Wilkes, returns to Bedwas after several years with Carmarthen Quins, he is now a proven Premiership player and offers great experience back at Bedwas. Joe Mills, to the good fortune of Bedwas seems to have missed by some other clubs comes from Rumney a converted second row to tight head; it will be exciting to see his development throughout the season as we think he has some great potential.
Dan Crimmins, with Cardiff RFC last year and is currently playing in Australia, has decided to switch clubs and regions to further his career opportunities with a fresh outlook.
Rhys Downes comes to Bedwas from Newport. Rhys is an experienced scrum half also having played for Pontypridd and Cardiff Blues. Harley Thompson, ex-Pontypridd and LLanharan, and Andy Humberstone, who last season played with Beddau, both impressed in the Championship have the opportunity to impress in the Premiership this season.
Dan Deardon also returns to Bedwas after several seasons with Ebbw Vale. After plying his trade in the lower division of the Championship he looks more than capable of a return to the top league.
Three further backs that have joined Bedwas are former Bridgend and Cardiff wing Steve Cullen and former Neath players Elliott Jones and Ryan Evans.
Club chairman Mark Lewis said: “The test for us now is to not only emulate what was a great season for Bedwas, but to better it.
“I am expecting every club to lift they’re game and expectations with the prospect of relegation looming for the bottom club this year.
“Our expectations are high for this season and so they should be.
“We have also made some significant strides with some improvements in the club house about to be made and around the ground we will have a new covered standing area at the front of the club already under construction and a new three metre electronic scoreboard will be erected, the ground should look great at the start of the new season.
“We look forward to welcoming back our members and supporters for the new season and hope to see many more turn out from the community.”