 | This article needs to be updated.(September 2021) |
| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Wales |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Level on pyramid | 5 |
| Promotion to | National Conference League via application to RFL |
| Domestic cup(s) | Challenge Cup |
| Current champions | South Wales Jets |
The South Wales Premiership is the league for amateur rugby league clubs in southern Wales. Previously named the RLC Welsh Premier, it is ond of numerous leagues in the fifth tier of the British rugby league system.
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.
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. [3]
Eight teams will contest the 2024 season: [4]
The competition is played as a single round robin with one loop fixture, the top four teams qualify for the playoffs. [4] [3]
Source: [5]
The South Wales Premiership has, on occasion, held a shield/plate competition for clubs who failed to reach the playoffs:
The South Wales Premiership also operates at under-17, under-15, and under-13 age groups.
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.
The Cardiff Demons RLFC name has been used multiple times over the years. Firstly for a now-defunct men's rugby league side, and subsequently for a women's rugby league side who began in 2021.
Nottingham Outlaws are a rugby league club from the city of Nottingham, England. They were founded in 1999 and their first team plays in the Premier Division of the Yorkshire Men's League. They have a junior section and in 2006 launched an academy team. They play their home matches at their own ground at Lenton Lane Nottingham NG7. They are also known as the 'hooded men'.
The St Albans Centurions are a rugby league club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The club plays their home games at Toulmin Drive, St Albans and their clubhouse is in High Oaks, St Albans.
Bridgend Ravens are a semi-professional rugby union club based in Bridgend, South Wales.
East Cumbria Crusaders is a rugby league club based in Carlisle, Cumbria. They play in the North East Division of the Rugby League Conference. Their home ground is Creighton RUFC.
Dinefwr Sharks RLFC were a rugby league side based in Ammanford, South-West Wales.
The Blue Bulls are a rugby league side based in Pyle, Wales. They play in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference. They are the most successful amateur rugby league team in Wales, having won the Welsh Premier a record seven times in their two incarnations, as well as winning the Harry Jepson Trophy twice against teams from England, Wales and Scotland.
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.
Valley Cougars are a rugby league team based in Treharris. They play in the Wales Premier League, which they won in 2017 after defeating the Torfaen Tigers in the league's Grand Final.
Blackwood Bulldogs were a rugby league team based in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Wales. They played in the Welsh Championship of the Rugby League Conference.
Torfaen Tigers are a rugby league team based in Pontypool, Torfaen, Wales. They play in the Southern Conference League division, which is the 4th tier in the Rugby league pyramid
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 Conference is a summer rugby league competition for amateur teams in North Wales and Mid Wales. It forms one of many fifth tier league if the British rugby league system.
The Rugby League Conference Welsh Championship was the lower of two Welsh domestic leagues for the sport of rugby league. It was a division of the Rugby League Conference competition which covers all of Great Britain.
The Harry Jepson Trophy is a rugby league competition contested by teams from successor leagues to the Rugby League Conference. It is named after Harry Jepson.
James Olds is an international Welsh rugby league player who currently plays for Fortitude Valleys Diehards in the Brisbane Rugby League. He mainly plays at centre or on the wing.
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