WRU wants to reduce the Principality Premiership (So the story goes)

[TRF_Cymro]

Right Ive just caught wind of this ... at the moment is a rumour and nothing more but fro what I have read and heard this thing is on the cards.

The story ...The WRU wants to reduce the Principality Premiership from 14 to 10 teams and the WRU would like to introduce the restructure for the start of the 2012-13 season.

So the proposal would mean that each region would get a fair split on the clubs involved but also raises some interesting questions.

How does 4 go into 10?
Which clubs stay and which go?
What happens to those clubs that are relegated?
Neath are regionaless ... who do they fall under?

Aberavon RFC,
Bedwas RFC,
Cardiff RFC,
Carmarthen Quins,
Cross Keys RFC,
Glamorgan Wanderers RFC,
Llandovery RFC,
Llanelli RFC,
Neath RFC,
Newport RFC,
Pontypool RFC,
Pontypridd RFC,
Swansea RFC,
Tonmawr RFC

Those are the 14 clubs ... logic says the bottom 4 teams will go but the WRU have found ways for them to keep Llandovery in.

Personally I think it will go this way

Cardiff Blues:

Cardiff RFC
Pontypridd RFC

Llanelli Scarlets:

Llanelli RFC
Llandovery RFC

Ospreys:

Aberavon RFC
Neath RFC - Will be placed there whether they like it / Ospreys like it or not
Swansea RFC

Newport-Gwent Dragons:

Cross Keys RFC
Pontypool RFC
Newport RFC

To Miss Out:

Bedwas RFC
Carmarthen Quins RFC
Glamorgan Wanderers RFC
Tonmawr RFC

All speculation at the moment, but seeing as there has been grumbles going on it is a likely-hood that things are changing.

 

[cyRil]

I can hear Ponty fans seething from here with you placing them under 'Cardiff Blues'...
So I'm guessing the play-off system will be revamped again? Unless 10th placed goes down and 9th just chills while the other 8 teams try and win the Premiership at the end of the year?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I can hear Ponty fans seething from here with you placing them under 'Cardiff Blues'...
So I'm guessing the play-off system will be revamped again? Unless 10th placed goes down and 9th just chills while the other 8 teams try and win the Premiership at the end of the year?

Ponty do actually fall under the Blues now. When the Warriors went bust there was some who-ha about Ponty joining / being placed under the Blues. The likes of Huw Dowden / Kristian Dacey / Rhys Williams / Sam Hobbs / Rhys Downes are all part of Ponty and Blues.

I would presume that they would revamp the play off system or might scrap it all together. Regarding promotion / relegation there was stories coming from Scrum V that the 10 teams would be guaranteed their place in the league for two years before promotion or relegation. But has a knock on to all leagues in the WRU system. Will they expand Division 1 West and East if so? Or will they just relegate more sides down? Personally if they relegate more sides down some clubs could face a hold heap of problems. Then the story goes that they will look at a similar system to the ITM Cup ... could be interesting.

 

[TVH11]

So this system is obviously going to be something similar to the super league system - guaranteed the "licence" for a certain number of seasons. Seems like a bit of a kick in the nuts for the "smaller" sides that are pushing from div 1 to the prem. There we go, WRU with their great schemes, they thought regional rugby would be the great saviour, first season in they axe a region.
The whole Neath situation is absolutely crazy, i cant believe the stories i've heard. I just find it hard to believe that players such as Duncan jones weren't allowed to play for Neath when coming back from injury etc (correct me if i'm wrong, but thats what i was told). So the story continues....

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Be correct RE: Duncan Jones. Been a lot going on behind the scenes. Neath were told that their players would not get a look in at regional level, exception was made for Kristian Phillips because he was already in the regional set up.

 

[cyRil]

He's not a part of Neath anymore either - he's been placed at Tonmawr; and other promising youngsters are at different clubs, like Matthew Jarvis playing for Aberavon. *Spits*
It's a shame

 

[TrueSlawter]

Neath fall under ospreys now already I thaught? (as the original name was Neath-Swansea Ospreys?.. but I'll look into it if they have fallen out or w/e as I didnt know if they have etc.)

Also Glamorgan Wanderers currently feeder for the Blues.

As for the system I'd just like it if it does happen have the top 10 from the season before stay then teams can still get promoted up and down etc. but then again there is the issue with needing to be a feeder for a region.. mabey make the top 10 league a no relegation league and have another Premiership like the current one for promotion & relegations etc. with players there will then possibly get a chance at playing in the feeders league if they are good etc.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

He's not a part of Neath anymore either - he's been placed at Tonmawr; and other promising youngsters are at different clubs, like Matthew Jarvis playing for Aberavon. *Spits*
It's a shame

Serious

Seen he is still on Neath's website: http://www.neathrugby.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=186749&pm=1

Neath fall under ospreys now already I thaught? (as the original name was Neath-Swansea Ospreys?.. but I'll look into it if they have fallen out or w/e as I didnt know if they have etc.)

Also Glamorgan Wanderers currently feeder for the Blues.

As for the system I'd just like it if it does happen have the top 10 from the season before stay then teams can still get promoted up and down etc. but then again there is the issue with needing to be a feeder for a region.. mabey make the top 10 league a no relegation league and have another Premiership like the current one for promotion & relegations etc. with players there will then possibly get a chance at playing in the feeders league if they are good etc.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbyn...objectid=19272282&siteid=50082-name_page.html

All stems from Geraint Hawkes vs Mike Cuddy

 

[Draggs]

So Neath aren't placing their players with the region?
Anyone able to explain why?

 

[cyRil]

Well there was a major bust up with Hawkes and Cuddy a couple of years ago, revolving around Cuddy promising to play regional games at the Gnoll and then reneging on that. I don't really know too much, when the story was running it bored me so I didn't pay it much attention. Much to say Neath are a stand-alone, regionless club as a result.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Not only that there was contract disputes, its in the Western Fail article I posted above. How the region can overlook players like Tom James at 9 is pretty poor to be honest.

 

[cyRil]

Reading around it looks like this year's play-off is between 2nd and 3rd in a one-off tie to see who plays 1st in the final. Bit of a joke changing the set-up every flipping year!

On a completely separate note; whatever happened to Darren Daniel?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Reading around it looks like this year's play-off is between 2nd and 3rd in a one-off tie to see who plays 1st in the final. Bit of a joke changing the set-up every flipping year!

On a completely separate note; whatever happened to Darren Daniel?

Carmarthen Quins.

 

[cyRil]

Oh dear.

 

[Draggs]

Carmarthen Quins.

Didn't he go to the London Irish earlier this season?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Didn't he go to the London Irish earlier this season?

Correct round October time played in a few 'A' games but he's back with the Quins apparently.

 

[Draggs]

Correct round October time played in a few 'A' games but he's back with the Quins apparently.

Makes sense then, Dragons signed Jamies Davies off them last season. (Playing for Cross Keys now)

 

[TVH11]

Jamie Davies was a few years older than me in school, top bloke, good rugby player too. The valley were loving it when he got signed, and only recently i saw he's now playing for Cross Keys. Will be interesting to see if Jamie can get back up there (he's been really unlucky with injuries)

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Just to tell you that what I said in the opening post is true. The WRU have released a statement about it also. I will get it up here when I get access to my email.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

WRU ANNOUNCES MAJOR REFORM PLANS FOR PREMIERSHIP RUGBY

The WRU is proposing to announce major changes to the Principality Premiership which will potentially see reform from the 2011/12 season across the semi-professional tier of the game in Wales.

Detailed plans for the changes have been approved in principle by the Premiership Division Clubs and will now be put before the full board of the Welsh Rugby Union to be confirmed and actioned or amended.

The Premiership clubs voted in favour of the proposal by a majority at a meeting this week where they debated a presentation on the reform plans which had been delivered earlier by the WRU Head of Rugby, Joe Lydon

The changes will reform the Principality Premiership Division from 14 to 10 teams chosen on the basis of set criteria.

It is proposed that the four teams displaced from the division will move directly into a newly formed National Championship Division which will form the top tier of the Community game in Wales.

Below that new league the existing SWALEC Division One East and Division One West will continue.

A new competition will also be organised involving the four clubs which are not participating in the British & Irish Cup in the new Premiership Division and the top four clubs from the National Championship Division.

The proposals drawn up by WRU Head of Rugby, Joe Lydon's department have also been presented to and approved by the union's Regulatory and Game Policy committees, the WRU Executive, the National Squad Management team and the four Regional Organisations along with their representative body Regional Rugby Wales.

If the plan is ratified by the WRU Board the ten teams which have achieved the criteria grades to form the new Premiership Division will be announced before the start of next season.

The radical changes have been drawn up following of a review which looked at funding, player numbers and quality along with competition structures.

WRU Head of Rugby, Joe Lydon, said: "An enormous amount of work, including consultation with all the major rugby stakeholders has gone into formulating this proposal. Following the support of the various groups we can now look forward to seeking ratification of the full Board of Directors of the WRU.

"This proposal may be viewed by some as radical reform and I fully appreciate the sensitivities of the issue so I admire the robust and realistic view the clubs are taking to help us deliver this reform.

"The new formation of Premiership and Championship League structures will ensure that the quality of rugby on show continues to improve and the funding available is best utilised.

"The reform includes a revised funding model to ensure enhanced on and off field performance.

"The creation of a new National Championship Division offers an exciting new level of rugby for both players and supporters to enjoy.

"Together we can make changes which will protect and develop our national sport and engender new interest across the whole of Wales whilst ensuring that this integral tier of welsh rugby provides a stepping stone to Regional and International rugby.

"Sometimes tough decisions have to be taken in the best interests of our national sport and we will continue to work hard to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for all concerned."

The chairman of the Premiership Division, Chris Clarke, of Cross Keys said: "These are radical reforms, but we realise they are necessary to ensure the division is sustainable and can prosper as a keystone of the elite game in Wales.

"We have all been faced with the financial realities sport is not immune from these days and this reform will help us meet those challenges.

"Of course there are clubs which will be bitterly disappointed at losing their Premiership status, but we have to be realistic and make tough decisions in the interests of Welsh rugby.

"The important thing is that the game will progress and the top of the sport in Wales will now have a platform from which to grow from strength to strength."

Details of the plan and the rules associated with membership of the reformed Premiership Division and the Championship Division will be agreed in the weeks ahead.

Clubs seeking to be one of the ten remaining Principality Premiership teams will be able to apply for the new status.

They must achieve an A licence granted by the WRU and based on defined criteria and an analysis of their results across the past six years in either the Premiership or Division One will be taken into account.

The new Premiership Division clubs will all sign a Participation Agreement and Rugby Charter which will safeguard rugby, player welfare and the commercial strategies of all the teams involved. Under the plan each of the four regional organisations will also be aligned, with a minimum of two and a maximum of four Premiership Division teams across the geographical regions.

Under the proposals a revised funding model will see enhanced financial and resource support provided to both newly formed Premiership Clubs and those displaced to the new National Championship Division.

WRU

What a waste of time and money.