A new-look Premiership
was named clubman of the year for 2015-16.
He will be a strong acquisition for Merthyr, who have lost fellow tighthead Gary Powell at the end of last season. PHIL JOHN (RGC 1404) JOINED the north Wales rugby revolution at RGC at the end of 2016 and has been an influential figure in their set-piece ever since.
Made the move from the Scarlets to RGC as a player and set-piece coach having been a cornerstone of the west Walians scrummage in 330 professional games for Llanelli and the Scarlets.
Helped the club lift a first WRU National Cup last season. LOU REED (MERTHYR) THE larger-than-life lock from Treorchy spent six years with the Scarlets and four seasons with Cardiff Blues before joining Sale Sharks in the summer of 2016.
Reed played five times for Wales with his debut against Scotland, in Cardiff, in the 2012 Six Nations Championship with his last Test appearance coming on the 2013 summer tour to Japan.
He made the move back to Wales in February of this year joining the Principality Premiership champions. BEN WHITE (CARDIFF) THE back row has signed a two year contract that will see him return to the Arms Park following a six year west country adventure with the Exeter Chiefs.
He played 68 times for the 2017 Aviva Premiership champions bagging 12 tries having previously played 50 games for the Cardiff Blues after signing from the ACT Brumbies in 2006.
The 34-year-old is no stranger to the Blue & Black shirt though, having five appearances for Cardiff during his spell with the Blues. CERI SWEENEY (PONTYPRIDD) THE former Wales outside-half continues to defy Old Father Time plying his trade at Pontypridd, aged 37.
He moved back to Sardis Road in the summer of 2015 after two seasons with Exeter Chiefs.
He was Wales No.10 for much of the 2003 World Cup in Australia and had stints with the now defunct Celtic Warriors regional team, Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff Blues before heading to the south-west’s rugby hot-bed.
The Glyncoch product first joined up with Pontypridd in 1998 providing competition for the No.10 shirt to the likes of Neil Jenkins and Fiji international Nicky Little, making 92 appearances and scoring 325 points.
Having been capped by Wales at Youth and under 21 levels, Sweeney made his senior international bow in 2003 as a replacement against Italy. He went on to score 88 points in 35 Test appearances. MARTYN THOMAS (MERTHYR) THE full-back/centre has an impressive CV that takes in spells with Aviva Premiership giants Wasps and Gloucester as well as playing for the Scarlets and Dragons.
His English travels also saw Thomas turn out for Coventry and London Welsh before joining Merthyr last season.