THE post-Leighton Jones era starts for Pontypool at Bridgend in Super Rygbi Cymru this afternoon.
Pooler made a shock announcement on Tuesday that Jones, who had been in the hotseat since 2016, has stepped down.
The former captain and hooker’s involvement with the club went back further than those eight years and it is a seismic change at the start of a new season.
However, Jones built a strong coaching unit and Pooler’s ambitions to challenge towards the top of the table aren’t in ruins.
The boss wasn’t at their opening game of the season when they gave champions Llandovery a serious scare in Gwent.
Pooler could have shared the spoils but opted for the corner rather than the posts with the clock in the red, keen to hunt four points for a win rather than two for a draw.
They had to settle for a consolation bonus instead but it was a performance that should give real encouragement for the coming weeks.
Attack coach Tom Hancock was in charge for the game against the Drovers side that he left at the end of last season after taking a job with the Dragons academy.
He will once again call the shots with the assistance of forwards coach Ashley Sweet, while there is plenty of on-field experience in the shape of player-coach Scott Matthews, Morgan Allen, Kieran Meek and captain Mikey Herbert.
Pooler are also boosted by the return of promising Dragons prospect Huw Anderson at full-back after he featured in pre-season for the professional side.
The coaches opt for a six-two split on the bench – with exciting Dragons back rower Evan Minto coming in after facing Bath last weekend – but it’s a settled side for the trip to the Brewery Field to face a Ravens side who showed promise in defeat to Newport last weekend.
The Black and Ambers bagged a six-point maximum at Spytty Park and look to build on that when they head west to face Swansea.
Head coach Ty Morris tinkers with the team for St Helens with one enforced change at fly-half because Matt O’Brien is on Dragons coaching duty.
Carwyn Penny moves to 10 with Ioan Davies starting at full-back while there is a familiar face in midfield after the return of Barney Nightingale.
The 27-year-old centre from Chepstow, who played for the Dragons as a teenager in 2014/15, made 25 appearances for the club between 2014 and 2016 before having spells with Cross Keys, Cardiff and Bargoed.
Rynard Landman partners Joe Peard in the second row with Josh Skinner returning to blindside flanker.
Pontypool: Huw Anderson; Ioan Duggan, Pat Lewis, Joel Mahoney, Mathew Powell; Kieran Meek, Matthew Flanagan; Sam Cochrane, Sam Scarfe, Kelvyn Williams, Morgan Allen, Dan Hill, Mikey Herbert (captain), Callum Davies, Scott Matthews.
Replacements: Kyan Best, Connor Chapman, Harry Drane, Ieuan Jones, Adam Stratton, Evan Minto, Dylan Davies, Amosa Nove.
Newport: Ioan Davies; Lloyd Lewis, Barney Nightingale, Jac Lloyd, Elliot Frewen; Carwyn Penny, Dafydd Buckland; Tom Workman, Wade Langley, Nathan Evans, Joe Peard, Rynard Landman, Josh Skinner, Josh Reid, Ben Roach (captain).
Replacements: Tyler Olding, Archie Callaghan, Ollie Drake, Nick Thomas, Kyle Tayler, Luke Crane, Jon Morris, Liam Lloyd.
FIXTURES
Super Rygbi Cymru: Aberavon v Carmarthen Quins, Bridgend v Pontypool, RGC v Llandovery, Swansea v Newport.
Premiership: Bargoed v Narberth, Cross Keys v Brecon, Llangennech v Pontypridd, Newbridge v Neath, Newcastle Emlyn v Merthyr, Ystrad Rhondda v Bonymaen.
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