UNDER-23 DEVELOPMENT CELTIC CUP
THERE are groundbreaking changes taking place below Welsh rugby’s professional game this season. While the format of the Guinness PRO14 remains unaltered for 201819, it promises to be a critical campaign for clubs in the Principality Premiership.
There is also a new development under-23 tournament containing the Welsh regions and Irish provinces , while the British and Irish Cup and Anglo-Welsh Cup are no more.
We explain how Welsh rugby will look in the forthcoming season. T WAS last season that the crossborder competition took the decision to welcome two South African franchises -- the Cheetahs and Southern Kings.
In expanding from 12 to 14 teams, a twin seven-team Conference tournament was unveiled, where the top three sides in each conference would qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.
The same Conference system made up of the same sides continues in 2018-19, with the only difference being that teams who played 10 of their 21 games at home last season, are being given an extra home match this term.
The games where teams only played each other once (eg: Scarlets played Munster in Limerick last season) are reversed (Munster visit Llanelli this season).
Of course, the biggest change of all is the television coverage , with subscription service Premier Sport taking over the rights with the BBC the biggest casualties. WE are still awaiting official confirmation of the format for the new competition, which is the latest attempt by Welsh bosses to bridge the gap between the professional game and the rest.
The plan is that the cream of the country’s young talent, possibly bolstered by a few older heads or returning injured players, will feature for the four Welsh professional sides, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys, Dragons and Scarlets.
In recent years, Regional Premiership Select XVs have provided the platform for rising young talent in the British and Irish Cup.
The regions have also largely used the Anglo-Welsh Cup as a development tool.
However, both competitions have now been scrapped.
It is understood the new ‘Celtic Cup’ competition will contain the four Welsh sides and the four Irish provinces (Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht) and will be played over a seven-week period in September and October.
There will be six matches for each of the Welsh sides, culminating in a final.
There is also the potential for Scottish sides to come on board for 2019-20.
The Scottish Rugby Union recently unveiled a new Super 6 competition containing semi-professional franchises Ayr, Boroughmuir, Heriot’s, Melrose, Stirling County and Watsonians as they attempt to provide a stepping stone to the professional game north of the border. IT is going to be a hugely significant season in the semi-professional tier with 16 teams being cut to 12 for 2019-20.
Last season, the West and East Wales sides were split into regional conferences before Christmas, then joined together as one division in the new year.
That experiment has lasted just one season and in 2018-19 the Premiership has returned to a traditional home and away format.
Again, there will be no end-ofterm play-off to decide the title winner – Merthyr are gunning for a hat-trick of titles.
However, there will be a play-off between the winners of the WRU National Championship and the side that finishes 12th in the Premiership.
The play-off game will only take place if the Championship winners have the required criteria to play in the Premiership.
The top 11 will retain their status, while the sides that finish 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th will drop into the Championship.
WRU head of performance Geraint John explained: “We felt it was a common sense approach as it gives all teams 15 homes fixtures and 15 away games.
“We listened to the clubs feedback and with no ring-fencing in this year’s competition, it should lead to an exciting season ahead.”
The big issue for many of the Premiership clubs, particularly those with younger squads, is that they will be without a large chunk of players in the early part of the season because of the new development competition.
That could leave some big-name clubs playing catch-up to avoid relegation.
The profile of the Premiership could also be raised if BBC Wales – who have lost their rights to the PRO14 – decide to broadcast live matches.
Merthyr open the defence of their crown against Cardiff at the Arms Park on September 1.
(Round one fixtures): 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. WITH ring-fencing being removed from the Premiership, there is a huge carrot for the 12 Championship sides this season.
Pontypool have been the dominant force in recent years