Anglo-Welsh Cup dies as Welsh clubs withdraw
PREMIERSHIP club owners will this week discuss options for a new internal cup competition after being told that the four Welsh regions are quitting the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
The Rugby Paper understands the largely unloved tournament will cease immediately, with the introduction of a Welsh regional U23 tournament and pressure on squads following expansion of PRO14 being the chief reasons behind the Welsh withdrawal.
With season tickets already being sold on the premise of providing a guaranteed 14 competitive home games, Premiership Rugby are now devising a new ‘Anglo-only’ format that may include four regionalised pools of three, more local derbies and a knock-out stage.
The decision of the Welsh regions to pull out comes as little surprise given their poor recent record in the competition, which manifested itself this season in Welsh sides winning just one of 12 cross-border clashes when the Dragons defeated Worcester 33-27 in February.
No Welsh team has reached the semi-final stage since the Scarlets in 2012, whilst the combined points tally in favour of the English this season was a landslide 463-170.
A Pro Rugby Wales spokesperson told TRP:
“Our review of development structures and processes has illustrated the need for us to focus our 18-23 player development through a dedicated U23 competition, which unfortunately means we will no longer have the resources to be able to compete in the Anglo Welsh Cup.”
Whatever replaces the Anglo-Welsh Cup next season is unlikely to operate in 2019-20, that being a World Cup year.
However, TRP understands options thereafter include expanding the Premiership to 13 teams or introducing South African sides into a new competition.
American teams could come into the equation if the new Major League Rugby tournament proves a success, although PRO14 officials have eyes on that market as well.
Premiership Rugby are committed to maintaining a development competition. A spokesman told TRP: “The Anglo-Welsh has been successful in helping develop players. We are sad to see the Welsh Regions will not be involved next season but we will shortly be announcing the format for next year’s competition.”
The 47-year-old tournament began life as the RFU Senior Cup in 1971 and attracted regular full houses of 75,000 for finals at Twickenham. However, since finals moved to club grounds in 2010, attendances have slumped and Exeter’s victory over Bath last month was watched by just 8,074.