The WRU Board has decided that from season 2016/17 the number of clubs in the Premiership will be increased from its current 12 teams to up to a total of 16.
There will be no relegation from the Premiership at the end of next season (2015/16) to launch the transition process.
The decisions were made following recommendations presented to the WRU Board by a Competitions Pathway Working Group which was made up from stakeholders across the league structure and from within the governing body.
The members included representatives from the Welsh Rugby Union, Regional Rugby and the Principality Premiership.
Details of the WRU Board decisions will be outlined directly to all stakeholders and further discussions will take place on some elements of the review.
Within the overview the Board confirmed a commitment to the EPCR competition and the Guinness Pro 12 as crucial elements of the elite player pathway structure.
The following key recommendations have been approved by the Board:
Anglo Welsh – LV= Cup
The Board agreed to lobby to maintain Welsh participation for season 2016/17 and with participating teams combined and branded as Ospreys Premiership Select, Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select, Cardiff Blues Premiership Select and Scarlets Premiership Select. This cup competition is an important development tool. Discussions related to the future involvement will commence with the RFU post the imminent Rugby World Cup.
British and Irish Cup
The Board agreed to help facilitate the development pathway structure by fielding combined Regional squad and Premiership squad teams for the British and Irish Cup.
The Board approved participation in the cup and confirmed that from season 2015/16 the participating teams would be combined and rebranded as Ospreys Premiership Select, Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select, Cardiff Blues Premiership Select and Scarlets Premiership Select.
It was further agreed to seek to maximise the development opportunity of the British and Irish Cup involvement by ensuring rounds mirrored the EPCR rounds dates therefore widening the squad selection profiles to include emerging players.
These season structure changes will now be taken forward as recommendations to the British and Irish Cup Operating Committee.
Principality Premiership
It was agreed that funding for the division will remain at the recently increased level with further consideration to be given to an alteration in the delivery mechanism to reward those clubs which do the most to produce players and coaches for regional and international rugby. It was also agreed to continue discussions to ensure an equitable funding structure for teams entering the newly constituted Premiership from season 2016/17.
From season 2016/17 the Principality Premiership will be increased to include up to 16 teams from the current limit of 12 with no relegation considered for the first three years. The new league structure will continue to be monitored and reviewed.
Only clubs which achieve a full A licence will be considered for promotion to the new league structure. Clubs must register their applications for A licences by August 31 and will be given until 18 December 2015 to achieve licence criteria. These clubs will then be made aware of the funding structure available if they achieve promotion.
A consultation process will be started with the Championship Division teams to discuss the effect of the Premiership changes on this league.
A new Premiership Challenge Cup is to be introduced from season 2015/16.
This will primarily be a development tool with rounds taking place to correspond with British and Irish Cup weekends throughout the season. This will help strengthen the development pathway into the Premiership through schools, college and youth rugby.
To help bolster the Challenge Cup a new player ID programme will be formulated to ensure a flow of school, college and youth players to the Premier Division competition structure.
The WRU Head of Rugby, Josh Lewsey, said: “The Board’s decision is a big step forward to align the development pathway and safeguard the future of the game in Wales.
“There has been a long and detailed debate on these issues involving all the stakeholders and I believe these decisions by the Board are based on what is best for the game.
“We are helping create a Premiership within which players can develop their talent through teams they can identify with as part of the fabric and history of the game in Wales.”
WRU Chairman, Gareth Davies, said: “I am delighted the Board of the WRU have taken these positive steps which further strengthen our player development pathway structure.
“I also want to thank the Competitions Pathway Working Group for the incredible amount of hard work they have carried out.
“The entire focus of this exercise has been to strengthen Welsh rugby and I can promise we will continue to seek ways to preserve our heritage while improving the rugby pathway from the very top through to the grassroots.”
