At the annual 25 Club Dinner, Llandovery RFC club coach Euros Evans revealed a number of signings for next season, writes Tom Hughes.

Sitting alongside fellow coaches Gareth Potter and Nic Hudd in a question-and-answer session, chaired by Huw S Thomas of the 25 Club, Evans was happy to share the information with an invited audience.

“We have lost two fine players to retirement in hooker Taylor Davies and No 8 Nathan Hart, but we have also been able to bring in some talented players who will suit our open style of play," he said.

“Three-quarter Corey Baldwin and hooker Cameron Lewis are really good arrivals at Church Bank; both players who, if they stay clear of injury, will be big players for us."

Davies’s departure will still be a big loss for the Drovers.

In two different spells at Church Bank, sandwiching time at the Scarlets and Dragons, the hooker scored a quite remarkable 32 tries in 59 games.

In the club’s annus mirabilis, 2023-2024, he was the Premiership’s top try scorer with 18 tries.

Most of the tries were scored from a driving maul at the end of a line-out, but there was much more to his play - a mobile, ball-handling, hard-tackling competitor who was always in the thick of things.

36-year-old Hart, too, will be much missed after two outstanding seasons since arriving from Llanelli in 2023.

Often used as a second-half replacement for No 8 Joe Powell, Hart had the rare ability to slip a first tackler and put the forwards on the front foot, being on the winning side 39 times in just 46 outings.

The loss of Davies and Hart will be balanced by the arrival of some exciting youngsters and proven competitors.

The star signing is Corey Baldwin, an Old Llandoverian who played 17 games for the Drovers before spells at the Scarlets, Exeter Chiefs, and Dragons. As centre or wing, he was tipped for great things, but injuries have dogged his career. Super Rugby Cymru will give the 26-year-old a new challenge.

He will compete for places with centre Will Thomas, who enjoyed a very good season at Premiership Llangennech, and Llandovery College's hugely promising centre Gryff Watkins, who led his school to the Welsh Schools and Colleges title.

Cameron Lewis is yet another hooker coached by Evans. He went to Coleg Sir Gar and now rejoins his old mentor. The 25-year-old former Wizard, son of former Llandovery coach Lyndon Lewis, has also been unlucky with injuries but has a full-rounded game.

Other signings up front include Dan Gemine, a dynamic second row/back row who is in the upcoming U20 World Cup squad, and Tom Pritchard – a former Wales U20 tight-head prop transferring from Cardiff Met.

His younger brother, Jac Pritchard, current Wales U20 tight-head, will also be joining as a Scarlets Academy-attached player.

There are also high hopes for Lampeter lock Kai Jones, son of former Drover Ceirian Jones.

Full-back Sion Jones, a former Junior Drover, will join the club as a Scarlets-attached player.

Also training with the squad will be fellow Junior Drovers Ioan Thomas and prop Llyr James, both key figures in Llandeilo’s Welsh Youth Cup final win over Pontypool.

Centre Thomas was the hero of the day at the Principality Stadium, kicking a last-gasp 45-metre penalty to pip Pontypool.