WRU completes Premiership survey

The Premiership criteria system was introduced ahead of 2005-2006 season to ensure Welsh rugby continues to improve the way clubs are run and that a high standard of facilities are provided for players and spectators at all major grounds.

Clubs seeking Premiership status are checked for the standard of their finances and administration, regulatory compliance, player development programmes and ground facilities. All clubs within the Premiership have to achieve the agreed criteria and all League One clubs seeking promotion also have to score the pass rate of criteria points.

The WRU team carrying out the qualification checks completed their audit by the deadline of January 31st this year and all appeals by clubs were decided by the end of February. All the clubs involved in the process have now been informed of the result of their WRU audit.

The Principality Premiership clubs which qualified are:

Aberavon RFC
Bridgend RFC
Cardiff RFC
Cross Keys RFC
Ebbw Vale RFC
Glamorgan Wanderers RFC
Llandovery RFC
Llanelli RFC
Maesteg RFC
Neath RFC
Newport RFC
Pontypridd RFC
Swansea RFC

The ASDA League One clubs which applied for qualification and passed the criteria are:

Carmarthen Quins RFC
Narberth RFC
Newbridge RFC
Pontypool RFC

Premiership clubs who have not satisfied the criteria will drop to the bottom of the final Principality Premiership table at the end of the season. Automatic promotion, and relegation, into the Premiership will ONLY take place if one, or both ASDA League One Champions (East and West) satisfy the Premiership criteria.

Welsh Rugby Union Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, said: “Top class facilities and robust management have to be in place to ensure players and supporters can continue to follow and enjoy the game of rugby in Wales.

“These days, people expect the highest standards in whatever sport they choose to participate in and we have to deliver to those standards. Great strides have been achieved both in terms of facilities and rugby structures within our clubs and our aim must be to continue that improvement across the game of rugby in Wales.”

The Chairman of the Premier Clubs in Wales, Chris Clarke of Cross Keys RFC, said: “We fully support the WRU system now in place to check that our clubs achieve the required standards on and off the field.

“Getting all our standards to where they are today has involved a lot of people and a lot of hard work over the past two years. Some great rugby is now being played in the Principality Premiership and the fans and players know that following the game at this level can be a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience.”