BEDWAS have named Richard Powell as club captain and the prolific fly-half will skipper a new-look squad in the upcoming Principality Premiership campaign.

The 28-year-old, who needs just seven points to hit 1,000, succeeds loosehead prop Dan Preece and will play a leading role in helping a raft of new signings settle at Bridge Field.

Head coach Steve Law has beavered away to bring in utility back Aaron Bramwell from Neath, former Dragons scrum-half and Wales 7s international Nicky Griffiths arrives from Cardiff Blues.

Full-back/wing Garyn Payne, who played for Coleg y Cymoedd and the Blues Under-18s and featured for Bedwas at the tail end of last season, joins from Aberdare while centre Pat Lewis has been allocated from the Dragons academy and makes the step up from Championship action with Pontypool last season.

Up front prop Jack Williams and hooker Stuart Vokes come from Newbridge, lock/flanker Robson Blake signs permanently from Bedlinog and back row Dan Crimmins has re-joined the club from Glamorgan Wanderers.

Locks Tom Bell and Rhys Verley has signed up after previously being with the Dragons academy while Lee Evans returns to rugby after a short break from the game.

"We have brought in several new recruits that we are hoping can build on an already powerful pack," said chairman Mark Lewis.

"We have also made a few tweaks in the back line, which we are hoping will give us the extra edge needed to finish next season better than we did the last.

"The club is going through some structural changes off the field in order to keep pace with the ever increasing need to finance our semi-professional status.

"We have appointed a new team manager due to the departure of Bedwas stalwart Andy Harrison, who has left the position due to work and family commitments.

"We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Adrian Withers, who was head coach at Nelson RFC for eight seasons, helping them win several promotions including promotion into Division One.

"Adrian is relishing the opportunity to gain further rugby experience at a higher level and we believe he will freshen things up at the club. He will be a great link between the playing side and the off-pitch team."

The management team is further boosted by Bedwas stalwart Deri Mattravers, who hung up his boots at the end of last season.