BEDWAS start a new era at Sardis Road tomorrow when Ian Gardner calls the shots in their Premiership opener against Pontypridd.

Bridge Field great Steve Law left this summer for Cardiff after 16 years at the helm and his right-hand man Gardner was the natural choice to take the reins.

Law was a magnificent servant for Bedwas and departed after a superb season in which they won the Foster’s Challenge Cup and qualified for the play-offs.

But with Gardner heading a management team of forwards coach Pat McGee, backs coach Steff Sankala and team manager Shaun Rees, the hope is for a smooth transition.

“I was doing pretty much all of the rugby anyway in terms of how we played and the coaching while I’ve been very fortunate with Stef and Pat stepping up and Shaun has been a huge help,” said Gardner.

“Really it’s been a pretty smooth transition in that I haven’t had to deal with a lot of the stuff off the field that ‘Spot’ was so good at.”

The new-look management team have been busy on the recruitment front, making two of the most high-profile signings of the summer.

Former Dragons fly-half Steffan Jones returns to Wales after a spell in England with Bedford and Ampthill while ex-Ospreys and Scarlets number eight Morgan Allen adds ball carrying.

“In Morgan, [ex-Dragons scrum-half] Nicky Griffiths, Steff and then [ex-Dragons centre] Ross Wardle we have a spine of boys who have been there and done it,” said Gardner. “But there are also boys hot on their heels putting pressure on and we will have some tough selection calls through the season.”

Allen should help fill the void left by the departure of Robson Blake for the Dragons, although the powerful back row/lock is available for the opener.