EBBW Vale have moved to fill the void left by captain Ronnie Kynes by snapping up flanker Lloyd Evans, writes Chris Kirwan.

Skipper Kynes is out for the rest of the season after suffering a foot injury in last Friday's Principality Premiership win against Carmarthen Quins at Eugene Cross Park.

Head coach Greg Woods has moved swiftly to sign 28-year-old openside Evans, who came through the Ospreys academy and was at Neath at the start of the season.

The Wales 7s international will be with the Steelmen until at least the end of the campaign while one of his former Gnoll teammates has also put pen to paper with Ebbw.

Loosehead Luke Garrett headed west in the summer after being released by the Dragons but is back in Gwent to join forces with Woods, who was his boss at Cross Keys when the prop was sent to learn the ropes in club rugby.

The 23-year-old from Tredegar, who made 13 regional appearances last season, will provide plenty of punch in the set piece and battle with Ross Jones and Joel Harries for the 1 jersey.

Garrett was a replacement in the Premiership loss to Newport and the 20-8 win against Carmarthen.

Prop Jordan Rogers, who can play on both sides of the front row, has made his dual-registration with Risca a full-time switch in a bid to develop his game at a lower level with the Cuckoos.

Ebbw climbed to fifth with last weekend's win against the Quins and travel to Bargoed on Saturday.

The Steelmen will still be without centre Dom Franchi, whose recovery from an ankle injury suffered at Pontypridd in mid-October is taking longer than initially anticipated. The 24-year-old is eyeing a comeback in mid-December.

l Merthyr back rower Phil Rees has been awarded the Premiership player of the month award for October.

The former Bedwas forward has led the charge to help his hometown club top the table in defence of their title.