 | This article needs to be updated.(September 2021) |
| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Wales |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Level on pyramid | 5 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Challenge Cup |
| Current champions | South Wales Jets |
The South Wales Men's League is a summer rugby league competition for amateur teams in South Wales. The competition was formed in 2003 as the RLC Welsh Premier. Following the 2012 restructure of amateur rugby league in Great Britain, it was renamed the South Wales Premiership.
The Rugby League Conference (RLC) was founded in 1997 as the Southern Conference, a 10-team pilot league for teams in the South of England and English Midlands.
The RLC first expanded into Wales in 2001 when Cardiff Demons joined the South West division.
In 2003, the RLC expanded with the creation of the Welsh Premier division. This division had 6 teams in the inaugural season and marked the first all Welsh rugby league division.
The Welsh Premier division was split into two divisions East Wales and West Wales in 2006, though this decision was reversed for the following season.
The Welsh Conference Junior League began in 2009.
In 2010, due to the growth of the sport, a Championship division was formed which would function at one tier lower than the present Premier division. This Championship division featured teams from South Wales. [1]
The RLC Welsh Championship division was given a re-structure following four West Wales clubs not fulfilling fixtures. Amman Valley Rhinos, Dinefwr Sharks, Swansea/Llanelli Dragons and West Wales Wild Boars were omitted and replaced with newly formed Dyffryn Devils.
In 2012 the league became the South Wales Premiership with the lower Championship division being abolished. 2012 also saw the creation of the North Wales Conference. This was part of large restructure of the RLC as the Conference League South was created.
From 2023, the winners of the competition will play the winners of the North Wales Conference for a place in the Challenge Cup. Due to logistical issues 2023 Champions (in their debut season), South Wales Jets were allocated the Welsh League place in the Challenge Cup
For the 2024 season, JES Group was announced as the competition's principle sponsor. [4]
Eight teams will contest the 2024 season: [5]
The competition is played as a single round robin with one loop fixture, the top four teams qualify for the playoffs. [5] [4]
Source: [6]
The South Wales Premiership has, on occasion, held a shield/plate competition for clubs who failed to reach the playoffs:
During the RLC era, a second tier competition was held for a brief period called the "RLC Wales Regional". Winner were:
The South Wales Premiership also operates at under-17, under-15, and under-13 age groups.[ citation needed ]
The Rugby League Conference (RLC), was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.
Rugby league is a sport played in Wales. The governing body of the game in Wales is the Wales Rugby League.
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The Rugby League Conference (RLC), also known as the Co-operative Rugby League Conference as a result of sponsorship from The Co-operative Group, was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
The Rugby League Conference National Division was the fourth division of the British rugby league system.
The Rugby League Conference (RLC), also known as the Co-operative Rugby League Conference as a result of sponsorship from the Co-operative Group, is a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.
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Neath Port Talbot Steelers were a rugby league team based in Port Talbot, West Glamorgan. They played in the Welsh Premier division of the Rugby League Conference at Aberavon Green Stars RFC.
The North Wales Men's League is a summer rugby league competition for amateur teams in North Wales and Mid Wales. The competition was formed in 2012 as the North Wales Conference following the restructuring of amateur rugby league in Great Britain.
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