Summer Injuries

The Pontypridd squad has been training hard in preparation for the coming season, with most players reporting fit and raring to go.

The main injury absentee however is experienced lock Chris Dicomidis who will undergo surgery on a persistent shoulder problem this coming week and will then look at a recovery period of up to six months, likely to keep him out of contention into the New Year.

Another recent casualty is newly signed prop Curtis Reynolds who suffered knee damage in the first pre-season friendly against Newport and is currently looking at a return to full fitness by the beginning of November.

Centre Dafydd Lockyer and scrum half Tom Rowlands had both been sidelined earlier in the summer by soft tissue injuries, had returned to fitness but had then gone on leave, both now back in contention for the start of the league campaign.

Others who have been granted leave of absence and have missed much of the pre-season build-up are hooker Huw Dowden, on honeymoon, and back rower Lloyd Evans.