Welsh Championship

Last updated

WRU Championship
Founded2012
CountryFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid2
Promotion to Welsh Premier Division
Relegation to WRU Division One East
WRU Division One East Central
WRU Division One West Central
WRU Division One West
Domestic cup(s) WRU Championship Cup
Current champions Pontypool RFC
Most championships Pontypool (3 Titles since 2012)
TV partners BBC Wales, S4C, BBC Sport
Website WRU National Championship
Current: 2023–24 WRU Championship

The WRU National Championship (or Admiral Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the second tier of professional rugby union in Wales. The league was reformed by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 2012.

Contents

The current National Championship champions are Pontypool RFC, who won consecutive titles in 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Pontypool RFC went through the 2022/23 Season unbeaten as Champions, with Neath RFC in second place also being promoted.

History

In 2012, the new division was formed from the restructuring of the Welsh Premier Division. The Premier Division was 'slimmed down' to 12 teams with Pontypool RFC and Tonmawr RFC relegated from the division. Tonmawr had already made the decision to opt out of the new league and would start the 2012–13 season in Division Six.

The National Championship is the second tier, which lies below the first tier Welsh Premier Division in Welsh club rugby. Above Welsh club rugby sides are the four regions, the Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, and Dragons, as part of regional rugby, who instead compete in the Pro14.

Restructuring process

The teams for the league would be decided on three factors. Firstly, the holding of an 'A Licence' based on stadium criteria. The signing of a 'Participation Agreement' and judged on league results over the previous six seasons. It was originally decided that the Premiership would reduce in size to ten teams. [1] It was announced that four clubs, Pontypool, Tonmwar, Bridgend Ravens and Carmarthen Quins RFC had not achieved the required criteria to be included into the new league. However, pressure from Ospreys and Scarlets backers led to the league being extended to 12 teams with Bridgend and Carmarthen included. [2] Tonmawr, citing financial reasons, opted not to take part in the new league at all and re-entered themselves into Division Six. [3]

The new league came under scrutiny in 2012 when Pontypool RFC launched a legal challenge to avoid being the only club relegated to the new division, which they ultimately lost on the grounds of 'meritocracy'. [4] [5] Pontypool had finished 12th in the previous campaign, above rivals Bedwas RFC and level on points with historic rivals Newport RFC.

2018–19 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1 Pontypool RFC 15150052920332673
2 Ystrad Rhondda RFC 1814044493628765
3 Narberth RFC 17140338926012963
4 Cardiff Met RFC 19121647532814759
5 Bedlinog RFC 16619276350-7433
6 Maesteg Harlequins RFC 13706234289-5529
7 Trebanos RFC 155010288330-4229
8 Newbridge RFC 185112308436-12828
9 Tata Steel RFC 144010349378-2926
10 Beddau RFC 174013320422-10226
11 Rhydyfelin RFC 154110235337-10224
12 Newcastle Emlyn RFC 154011273430-15721

Correct as of 26 February 2019

2017–18 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1 Pontypool RFC 222200926239687107
2 Narberth RFC 22141759543915672
3 Trebanos RFC 22140850133516669
4 Tata Steel RFC 2213095464836366
5 Newbridge RFC 2212010460461-158
6 Bedlinog RFC 2210210480501-2158
7 Rhydyfelin RFC 2210012391435-4449
8 Newcastle Emlyn RFC 229112470633-16347
9 Beddau RFC 228014379543-16443
10 Cardiff Met RFC 227213473638-16540
11 Skewen RFC (r)227015351535-18434
12 Glynneath RFC (r)223019292622-33017

"r" denotes relegation to the WRU Division One East or WRU Division One West

2016–17 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1 Pontypool RFC 22210180527952698
2 Narberth RFC 22170564936228781
3 Tata Steel RFC 22140857845112770
4 Beddau RFC 22140853539713870
5 Newcastle Emlyn RFC 2210111411504-9354
6 Cardiff Met RFC 2210012435562-12746
7 Newbridge RFC 229013403534-13145
8 Glynneath RFC 2210012339488-14944
9 Bedlinog RFC 228113407440-3344
10 Skewen RFC 228113314418-10441
11 The Wanderers (r)227114405490-8541
12 Dunvant RFC (r)222020434790-35616

2015–16 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1 Merthyr RFC 2624021192289903118
2 Swansea RFC 262213859402457108
3 Bargoed RFC 26191677940137897
4 RGC 1404 RFC 26190792846046896
5 Pontypool RFC 26191679442836694
6 Beddau RFC 2610115537567-3052
7 Cardiff Met RFC 269017631828-19751
8 Tata Steel RFC 2611015622787-16550
9 Narberth RFC 268117564710-14648
10 Newcastle Emlyn RFC 2610016538668-13047
11 Newbridge RFC 269017501686-18547
12 Glynneath RFC 269017461767-30645
13 Bridgend Athletic RFC 269116362648-28643
14 Llanharan RFC 2610252771404-11277

2014–15 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1 Bargoed RFC 262501958362596124
2 Swansea RFC 262204909386523107
3 Merthyr RFC 26190767145221989
4 RGC 1404 RFC 261501184843641283
5 Pontypool RFC 261601063948315677
6 Narberth RFC 2615110542562-2070
7 Cardiff Met RFC 261401264853311566
8 Bridgend Athletic RFC 26140124964653165
9 Tata Steel RFC 2612014486651-16558
10 Glynneath RFC 269017532653-12143
11 Newbridge RFC 267118479777-29839
12 Llanharan RFC 266020475663-18833
13 Tondu RFC 264022461717-25630
14 Blackwood RFC 2630233681372-100420

Winners

SeasonWinners
2012-13 Ebbw Vale RFC
2013-14 Ebbw Vale RFC
2014-15 Bargoed RFC
2015-16 Merthyr RFC
2016-17Pontypool RFC
2017-18Pontypool RFC
2018-19Pontypool RFC

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References

  1. "Premier Division to be Reduced to ten teams". Bbc.co.uk. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  2. "Bridgend & Carmarthen Quins set for Welsh Premiership reprieve". Bbc.co.uk. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  3. "Tonmawr drop out of league". Thisissouthwales.co.uk. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  4. "Pontypool 'not good' enough for league". Bbc.co.uk. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  5. "Pontypool lose legal challenge". Bbc.co.uk. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.