WRU to further boost standards

A working party is being set up to assess the system now in place to ensure that a high standard of facilities are provided for players and spectators at major grounds.

The group will involve representatives of the Welsh Rugby Union, Division One and Premier Division clubs.

The working party was set up by the board of the WRU this week at the end of the second season the system has been in operation. The criteria have not changed since they were introduced in March 2005.

Details of the current criteria system introduced in 2005 were reaffirmed by the Welsh Rugby Union Board at a meeting in Cardiff.

The system means clubs seeking Premier Division status are checked for the standard of their finances and administration, regulatory compliance, player development programmes and ground facilities.

A WRU team carried out the qualification checks by the January 31st 2007 deadline which was set and relayed to clubs at the start of the 2006-2007 season. All appeals by clubs were decided by the end of February.

The results of the audit for the 2006-2007 season mean that the winners of the Division One East and West, Beddau and Bonymaen respectively, will not be promoted to the Premier Division.

A request to the Welsh Rugby Union board from both clubs this week for an end of season extension to the audit process was rejected.

Premier Division clubs who have not satisfied the criteria drop to the bottom of the final Premiership table at the end of each season and face relegation if the Division One champions satisfy the Premiership criteria. This season, Bedwas failed to achieve the set criteria standard and their status will be reviewed over the next month.