Whilst Dragons RFC aren’t playing this weekend, as they prepare to face Cardiff at Rodney Parade on Boxing Day, there is plenty of action in Gwent to keep an eye on.
It all begins on Saturday afternoon with two huge derbies. The beginning of the Celtic Challenge with an all-Welsh clash on Saturday, along with two Gwent powerhouses going head-to-head in Super Rygbi Cymru.
At 2:30pm Pontypool host new league leaders Ebbw Vale in only the second Gwent derby of the season.
The first, saw Pontypool win at home to Newport 17-14 in October before Ebbw Vale’s home game against the Black and Ambers in late November was postponed due to Storm Bert.
Four Dragons Academy players line-up for Pooler; front rowers Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths and Sam Scarfe along with scrum-half Morgan Lloyd and wing Walker Price who scored a brace against Bridgend last weekend.
Lloyd scored his first senior Dragons try against Cardiff in November before starting against Montpellier, though he was forced off after failing a Head Injury Assessment.
Pontypool also boast the talents of Joel Mahoney who shone for Dragons A in November, as well as Wales international Scott Williams in the centres.
Against them, league leaders Ebbw Vale will be hoping to maintain the good form which saw them leapfrog Cardiff at the top of the tree last time out with a 32-20 home win.
The Steelmen welcome back Dragons Academy wing Harry Rees-Weldon to their starting XV after the 19-year-old’s try-scoring exploits for Wales U20s last Friday.
They are led by captain Joe Franchi at hooker and will be hoping to maintain their hold, not only on top spot, but also on the SRC Challenge shield which they have retained since they defeated Llandovery away from home at the start of October.
Elsewhere, at Dragons’ home training ground - Centre of Sporting Excellence Ystrad Mynach - Gwalia Lightning host Brython Thunder at the start of the Celtic Challenge.
Captain and Welsh international Gwennan Hopkins captains her side from number eight with fellow internationals Bryonie King, Alaw Pyrs, Maisie Davies and Molly Reardon all lining up in the pack.
Behind them, Wales scrum-half Sian Jones will look to feed fellow international wings Carys Williams-Morris and Catherine Richards with the latter hoping to recreate her heroics from this same fixture last year, where she scored a brace.
Gwalia will walk out in a unique tribute before kick-off with each player accompanied by an individual who has been an inspiration to them or played a key part in their rugby journey.
Head coach Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin’s side face a Thunder team captained by Wales second row Natalia John who is joined by international teammate Gwen Crabb with Niamh Terry at 10 and Meg Webb at centre.
Finally, but by no means least, third take on second in the SRC as Newport travel to the Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday.
George Youngs lines up for the Black and Ambers in the second row, meanwhile there are also places for Harri Ackerman and Oli Andrew at 12 and on the wing respectively.
Newport also boast centre Dai Richards and wing Lloyd Lewis in their backline who showed their talents for Dragons A in November, while Dragons coach Matt O’Brien will look to pull the strings once he joins the fray from the bench.
With Newport trailing Cardiff by five points going into this weekend, it is possible that Gwent could hold first and second atop the SRC tree this Christmas.
