Pontypridd have announced that Penallta full-back, Lloyd Rowlands, and captain Ross Morgan will be joining their ranks for the new season.
The Premiership giants have bolstered their squad ahead of the 2017/18 season with the two influential Pitmen, after they made a “significant impression” during training sessions at the club over the summer.
Full-back Rowlands, 26, can also play on the wing and began his career at Senghenydd before going on to represent both Caerphilly and Penallta. He started Penallta’s 16-16 try-count victory over Ystalyfera in the National Plate final in April, and is a strong attacker.
Ross Morgan will relinquish the captain’s armband after a successful season which saw the Pitmen take both the National Plate and Mid District Cup. The openside flanker from Ystrad Mynach will add to an already strong back-row at Sardis Road and look to make a name for himself in the top-flight.
Pontypridd Team Manager Dan Godfrey said: “We have been impressed by what we have seen of Lloyd and Ross in sevens tournaments and in training over the summer, and both were players that we were previously aware of. We thank Penallta RFC for their co-operation in making them available to us.
“Lloyd is a strong back line attacker but also fearless in defence, with a physical edge to his game, whilst Ross is a typically hard-nosed openside flanker. Both come to us with good reputations, and will be well suited to our style of play.”
Penallta have announced that Morgan’s back-row partner, Rhys Stephens, will take over the captaincy from the upcoming season.
A former captain of the youth side, Deri-born Stephens has been around the club for several years, and has played in two Principality Stadium finals, a Silver Ball final and won the Division 1 East league title by the age of 24.
Stephens will step up into the role at the same time that Gregg Haines takes on a full-time coaching role with the club’s first team, following Matthew Tucker’s decision to step down as head coach.