After five successive seasons as league champions they have risen from the depths of Division 6 East to Division 1. It is a fantastic achievement for a club that was only born in 1983 and actually disbanded for a while in 1998.
In their opening 14 seasons they won the Newport & District Cup no fewer than nine times, eight of them consecutively, and they also reached the final of the Welsh Brewers Cup four times, winning it in 1990.
After some lean times, they hit back strongly in the new millennium, adding three more Newport & District Cup titles between 2006-08. Their march up the league tables began in 2008 and 2009, when they won back-to-back Division 6 East crowns.
They made it a hat-trick in 2014, when they also made it 13 Newport & District Cup titles, and then rose all the way to the top with five consecutive promotions. They won Division 6 East Central in 2014, Division 3C East in 2015, Division 3B East in 2016, Division 3A East in 2017 and the Division 2 East title last winter to make it seven league titles in 11 seasons.
Over the past five years they have enjoyed an outstanding 92% win ratio with 83 victories and a draw in their 91 league games. Just how much further they can go will be given the acid test on 1 September when they travel to face last season’s double-winners, Brynmawr.
The ‘Mawr enjoyed the greatest season in their history last term as they won the Division 1 East title by a massive 10 points and lost only twice in 22 league outings. On top of that they won the WRU National Bowl for the first time at the Principality Stadium.
The only blot of their season was losing out to Division 1 East Central champions Ystrad Rhondda in the play-off for a place in the WRU Championship. That will be the goal next season.
The other newly promoted club, Cwmbran, have achieved their highest league status and are rewarded with a home tie on the opening day of the season against Caerleon, who finished last season in 10th place. Runners-up Penallta will host fourth placed Risca in another top opening day fixture.
There are three new teams in Division 1 East Central following the promotion to the National Championship of last season’s winners, Ystrad Rhondda. The top two teams from Division 2 East Central last season, champions Gilfach Goch and runners-up Cambrian Welfare, have moved up and Bridgend Athletic, who finished third in Division 1 West Central, have moved across to accommodate relegated Skewen.
Gilfach and Cambrian both launch their new campaigns away at home, with Gilfach having to travel to Treorchy to face the 2017 champions. Bridgend Athletic kick-off at home against Dinas Powys, while 2016 champions Skewen host Tondu as they aim to fight their way back into the Championship.
In Division 1 North, newly crowned champions Nant Conwy will launch the defence of their title at home to Ruthin, who were the only team to beat them in the league last season when they won 16-15 thanks to a last-gasp try from Jack Jones.
In the West, Whitland and Hendy have risen through the ranks to take over from relegated Penclawdd and Tycroes in Division 1 West. Both newcomers only lost two league games each in Division 2 West last season, with Whitland taking the title by two points.
They both start at home on the opening weekend, while reigning champions Felinfoel make the short trip to Llanelli Wanderers. In Division 1 West Central, Maesteg Celtic and Brynamman gained promotion from Division 2 West Central and while Glynneath have been relegated from the National Championship following the elevation of last season’s winners, Maesteg Quins.
WRU National League Division 1 Fixtures – Round 1: 1 September, 2018
Division 1 East
Brecon v Nelson
Brynmawr v Hartridge
Cwmbran v Caerleon
Penallta v Risca
Pontypool Utd v Blaenavon
Ynysybwl v Dowlais
Division 1 East Central
Bridgend Athletic v Dinas Powys
Glamorgan Wanderers v St Joseph’s
Mountain Ash v Llantrisant
Porth Quins v Cambrian Welfare
Rumney v Rhiwbina
Treorchy v Gilfach Goch
Division 1 North
Bethesda v Bro Ffestiniog
Caernarfon v Llangefni
Dinbych v Bala
Mold v Llandudno
Nant Conwy v Ruthin
Shotton Steel v Pwllheli
Division 1 West
Crymych v Tenby Utd
Gowerton v Kidwelly
Hendy v Dunvant
Llanelli Wanderers v Felinfoel
Llangennech v Aberystwyth
Whitland v Gorseinon
Division 1 West Central
Ammanford v Maesteg
Bonymaen v Brynamman
Kenfig Hill v Glynneath
Maesteg Celtic v Aberavon Quins
Skewen v Tondu
Ystalyfera v Waunarlwydd
