Champions off to Cardiff for first game

MERTHYR will launch their bid to make it a hat-trick of Principality Premiership titles when they head down the A470 to meet Cardiff at the Arms Park on the opening day of the season.

The structure for this season’s competition has been changed to a home and away format, with no play-offs at the end of the campaign.

The top 11 of the 16 teams will retain their Premiership status for next season with the 12th club facing off against the winners of the WRU National Championship for the final place in next season’s 12-team league.

The play-off game will only take place if the Championships winners have the required criteria that meets the requirements for clubs to play in the following 12-team Premiership in 2019/20.

WRU head of performance, Geraint John, said the changes to the structure were in collaboration with the clubs.

“We felt it was a common-sense approach as it gives all teams 15 homes fixtures and 15 away games,” he said.

“We listened to the clubs’ feedback and with no ring fencing in this year’s competition, it should lead to an exciting season ahead,” he said.

Principality Premiership fixtures 2018/19 (First Month)

Round 1 – September 1: Aberavon v Swansea, Bargoed v Llandovery, Bedwas v Pontypridd, Cardiff v Merthyr, Carmarthen Quins v Newport, Cross Keys v Bridgend, Llanelli v Ebbw Vale, RGC 1404 v Neath. Round 2 – September 8: Carmarthen Quins v Cross Keys, Ebbw Vale v Aberavon, Llandovery v Cardiff, Merthyr v Bedwas, Neath v Bridgend, Newport v Bargoed, Pontypridd v Llanelli, Swansea v RGC 1404. Round 3 – September 15: Aberavon v Pontypridd, Bargoed v Carmarthen Quins, Bedwas v Llandovery, Bridgend v Swansea, Cardiff v Newport, Cross Keys v Neath, Llanelli v Merthyr, RGC 1404 v Ebbw Vale. Round 4 – September 22: Bargoed v Cross Keys, Carmarthen Quins v Cardiff, Ebbw Vale v Bridgend, Llandovery v Llanelli, Merthyr v Aberavon, Newport v Bedwas, Pontypridd v RGC 1404, Swansea v Neath.

Round 5 – September 29: Aberavon v Llandovery, Bedwas v Carmarthen Quins, Bridgend v Pontypridd, Cardiff v Bargoed, Cross Keys v Swansea, Llanelli v Newport, Neath v Ebbw Vale, RGC 1404 v Merthyr.