Former Wales international Lee Byrne could play for Bedwas RFC after being attributed to the club by the Newport Gwent Dragons for the upcoming season.
Other Dragons’ players who may represent Bedwas if they fail to regularly appear for the the region, include prop Phil Price and back rower James Thomas.
Bedwas have retained the majority of their squad from last season, in which they finished sixth, including the premiership’s top try scorer Rory Budina.
Budina scored 11 tries for Bedwas lasts season and one for Newport and was named in the Principality Premiership Dream XV at the leagues’ awards dinner in May.
Bedwas retain the backbone of their squad from last season with some seasoned campaigners and Simon Grainger will continue as captain.
There are a few new faces at the club such as half backs Jack Maynard and Joe Smith, centres Paul Davies and Aaron Pinches, wing Steve Taylor with Ian Jenkins and Alan Rees in the front row, Josh Walker in the second row and Alwyn Lee in the back row.
David Young, Elliot Dee, Hugh Gustafson, Mathew Screech, Ryan Landmam, Joe Davies and James Benjamin make up the senior Dragons attributed to the club, along with academy players George Gasson and Conner Edwards.
Bedwas RFC’s Head Coach, Steve Law, said: “We had a very poor start to the season last year but in contrast the players have worked extremely hard this pre-season and with the injection of new players the environment has become very competitive.”
Mark Lewis, Chairman of Bedwas RFC, said: “Competition for places will be tough this year with the younger players pushing hard to earn a first team spot.
“It’s also good to welcome Mathew John back to the Bridge Field after taking a year out to travel and Tom Rowlands who was sidelined all of last season due to his ankle injury. We seemed to have improved on paper but we can only measure that when we hit the field.”
In the final two pre-season friendlies the first team squad will take on Henley Hawks away on Saturday Augusut 16 at 2.30pm and then play Cross Keys at the Caerphilly County Borough Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach on Thursday August 21 at 7.15pm.
The league season begins on September 14 with Bedwas taking on Llanelli but the club play in a British and Irish Cup qualifier on August 30 against Newport for the right to play the winner of Cross Keys v Ebbw Vale.