The Berkshire side currently lead the head-to-head 2-0 following an absolute cracker in Port Talbot last year, Seb Reynolds’ side edging a 35-28 triumph in which the visitors had to come from behind on four occasions before Harry Stone’s late score proved decisive.
The year before Rams triumphed 38-19 in a fixture where their fitness was again crucial as the game wore on, the visiting Wizards having taken the lead early on.
New signings on show
Aberavon finished the regular season sixth in the revamped 10-team Welsh league last year, knocked out by eventual champions Newport (40-25) in the quarter-final stage of the play-offs.
It has been a summer of change at OBR with plenty of new signings all potentially ready to be involved – Bristol Bears’ Academy No. 8 Aaron Tull joined by fellow back rows Max Brown and former the hard-running Willo Bicknell.
At the head of the scrum, hooker Pete Austin has returned from captaining the British Army on a successful three-match tour to New Zealand, Fiji and Australia – the Red Shirts having won two of their three games – while Swansea University graduate Max Marshall is a highly-rated and versatile prop with 53 BUCS Super Rugby caps capable of playing on either side of the scrum.
Former Scotland Under 20 George Breese is like Marshall in being able to play on either side of the front row, back in the UK after spending 18 months at Burnside RFC in Christchurch, New Zealand.
New three-quarter threats
Brown’s fellow Cardiff Met teammate Louis Pereira, a scrum-half, is another with a bright future, while Mike Cooke and Harris Rutherford are two new stand-off options following the departure of Fraser Honey to London Scottish.
Rutherford is an ex-Scotland Under 20 who has been playing in Major League Rugby in the USA for San Diego Legion, while Cooke was one of Bishop’s Stortford’s star performers in their victory against Rams last term, having previously played for Ireland Under 18s.
Another significant signing sees the return to Old Bath Road of wing Luke Graham, the wing having played a handful of games on loan from Bath last season before he suffered a hamstring injury before Christmas, while Sam Bowen is another with serious pace.
Legendary back row no longer around
Departing from Rams have been the back row trio of legendary captain Robbie Stapley – the club’s record first-team try-scorer – Mini-turned 176-cap ace Tom Vooght, and the classy James McRae, all slipping into retirement.
Lock Dan Swain is set to emigrate to Australia for a year, while Army centre Solodrau Radianirova joins Honey at London Scottish.
Prop Liam Bishop departs to National One rivals Plymouth Albion, with Jamaica 7s wing Jack Rampton exploring his options in rugby league.
Inside centre Joe Pannese returns from his year of industry in Reading to Loughborough University.
There is free entry at Old Bath Road for Saturday’s game (3pm), with gates open from 1pm and food and drink on sale throughout the afternoon.
Rams then visit old rivals Taunton Titans seven days later (3pm).
