PONTYPOOL have retained 30 of their ‘invincibles’ for their bid for promotion to the Principality Premiership, writes Chris Kirwan.

Pooler earned a second WRU National Championship crown on the spin in style, winning all 22 of their games.

Leighton Jones’ men will now have the chance to earn promotion to a revamped, 12-team top flight after the end of ring-fencing, with the head coach looking for more of the same from his charges.

"To have retained such a high percentage of our squad not only demonstrates the togetherness and spirit that has been fostered within the group, but also shows just how committed we all are to taking this great club back to the top table of Welsh club rugby," said the head coach

“We have worked incredibly hard to build an environment based on honesty and commitment over the previous two seasons and we are a completely different outfit to the team that fell just short of achieving promotion back in 2016.

“The squad’s achievement of going unbeaten last season was something special and is a measure of how much we have progressed, but achieving promotion is the sole focus next season and I have every confidence that we have the right personnel in place to achieve this objective.

“We are relishing the challenge and it is a great opportunity to repay the incredible loyalty of our long-standing supporters, who have stood by us throughout every twist and turn over the previous five years.”

New deals have been signed by props Aaron Coundley, Ollie Drake, Craig Price, hooker/prop Jamie Jeune, hookers Ben Parry, Lewis Ball and Alex Watkins, locks Ben Egan, Richard East, Rhodri Jones and Curtis Gregory, back row forwards Craig Attwell, Michael Herbert, Rob Nash, Brendan Lampitt, Ben Sparks, Cameron Watson-Boycott and Jordan Williams.

Staying behind the scrum are scrum-halves Martin Luckwell, Aaron Quick, fly-halves Matthew Jones and Josh Malson, fly-half/centre Kieran Meek, centres Clayton Gullis and Dan Robinson and speedsters Jordan Thomas, Marc Thorley, Lewis Prothero, Rhordi Usher and Owen Williams.

Three members from last season's squad have left with flanker Callum Davies heading to Bargoed, prop Ryan Harford retiring and full-back Josh Hurley pursuing other opportunities.

l Brynmawr and Pontypool United clash tomorrow in the Ben Francis Cup final at Blackwood RFC (kick-off 2.30pm).