WALES Under-20s number eight Harri Keddie has been allocated to Ebbw Vale again for the upcoming Principality Premiership season along with six fellow bright Newport Gwent Dragons prospects, writes Chris Kirwan.

Keddie enjoyed a superb campaign with the Principality Premiership champions in 2015/16 and also shone on the international stage, helping Wales win a first Six Nations Grand Slam at under-20 level with his powerful running.

The 20-year-old from Llanvaches made his regional debut in the final match of the season at Zebre and it remains to be seen how frequently he is sent for game time at Eugene Cross Park as Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones is likely to gently introduce him to the first team fray.

Wing Jared Rosser also returns to Ebbw and will be keen to keep on developing after featuring alongside Keddie for Wales at the World Rugby U20 Championship this summer.

He will have a rival for a place in the back three in Will Talbot Davies, who is from Solihull and came through the Welsh Exiles programme. The elusive full-back featured for the Dragons and Wales at under-18 level last season.

Loosehead prop Keagan Bale will bolster Vale's front row after missing the whole of last season with a knee injury suffered in Dragons training.

He will be joined in the pack by athletic lock Max Williams, who is going on tour to South Africa with Wales Under-18s.

Joel Harries and Dawid Rubasniak, who flourished under Jason Strange with Ebbw Fawr Community Learning, get the chance to build on the impression that they made last season. Prop Harries trained with the seniors and Rubasniak featured in the Foster's Challenge Cup.

Ebbw play pre-season fixtures at Bedlinog on Friday, August 12 and London Welsh on Saturday, August 27 before starting the defence of their title against Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday, September 4.