All change for the club game as new leagues take shape
IT’S all change in Welsh rugby next season, with the make-up of the new Elite Domestic Competition having been settled last week.
We now know the 10 teams who will compete in the new league, which is intended to work more closely aligned with the professional game.
And with that sorted, the rest of the leagues in Wales are slowly falling into order with the community season effectively finished.
There’s still some games here and there left to be played, but by and large, the 2023-24 campaign is done and dusted.
And the 2024-25 one promises plenty of change in the re-structured top leagues.
Elite Domestic CompetitionStarting with the EDC, we know that, after quite a wait and plenty of public campaigning, Cardiff took the 10th spot at the expense of Neath.
The other nine teams had been finalised quite a while ago.
2024/25 EDC: RGC, Swansea, Bridgend, Llandovery, Cardiff, Ebbw Vale, Carmarthen Quins, Newport, Aberavon and Pontypool.
Community Premiership
Up until now, the Indigo Premiership had always sat at the top of the Welsh game below the professional level. But naturally, the introduction of the EDC changes that.
The Premiership will now fall under the community game along with the other Admiral leagues.
Along with the three teams who will not form part of the EDC (Merthyr, Pontypridd and Neath), five teams have been promoted from both Championship East and West to see it continue as a 13-team community Premiership.
Nartbeth, Brecon, Llangennech, Bonymaen and Newcastle Emlyn have all been promoted from the
Championship West, while Bargoed, Cardiff Met, Cross Keys, Ystrad Rhondda and Newbridge all came up from Championship East.
2024/25 Premiership: Merthyr, Pontypridd, Neath, Narbeth, Brecon, Llangennech, Bonymaen, Newcastle Emlyn, Bargoed, Cardiff Met, Cross Keys, Ystrad Rhondda and Newbridge
Championship
With major changes in the Championship due to the amount of teams going up to the Premiership, there’s also a lot of promotions set to happen to fill up those spaces.
Initially, the WRU’s plan had been to make the Championship East and West both 10-team leagues, but they will instead be 13-team competitions - with the top three from Division 1 East, East Central, West and West Central all going up.
Clubs will then be assigned the appropiate league - East or West based on geographical location. Championship teams for 2024/25: Existing Championship East teams: Beddau, Bedwas, Rummey, Glamorgan Wanderers, St Peters, Penallta, Treorchy
Existing Championship West teams: Dunvant, Trebanos, Crymych, Ammanford, Ystalyfera, Maesteg Quins, Tata Steel
Promoted from Division 1 East: Brynmawr, Talywain, Ynysddu Promoted from Division 1 East Central: Cambrian Welfare, Aberdare, Mountain Ash
Promoted from Division 1 West: Llanelli Wanderers, Gorseinion, Gowerton
Promoted from Division 1 West Central: Tondu, Glynneath, Kenfig Hill