The sponsorship news is a boost for the Premiership on the back of Specsavers’ backing of the WRU National Leagues and Cup.
There is further good news with the confirmation that last season’s top six Premiership clubs (Merthyr, Cardiff, Pontypridd, Llandovery, Ebbw Vale, Aberavon), will participate in a cross-border competition with Scottish Super6 clubs which will take place at the conclusion of the forthcoming season along with strong indication from all parties that last season’s extensive live television coverage of the Indigo Group Premiership will continue next season.
WRU Group Chief Executive Martyn Phillips said, “We are thrilled to welcome Indigo Group on board as Premiership title sponsors. Their energy, and the profile they will bring to the clubs and competition, will provide a significant boost to the new-look league, along with the continued high level of live television coverage and the prospect of a new cross-border competition.
“Moving to a 12-team competition will concentrate playing and coaching resources with the aim of improving standards and the re-introduction of promotion and relegation will add jeopardy to the competition. The primary purpose of the Indigo Group Premiership is for clubs to represent their communities in striving to become the best club in Wales. The league also provides the opportunity for emerging professionals to get valuable game time in a hard fought and competitive league.”
WRU Community Director Geraint John added, “We have worked closely with the Premiership clubs to secure the best possible scenario for all and we are excited at the prospect of watching the results of these changes on the Indigo Premiership this season. The clubs can look forward to a stable League structure with the added incentive of cross-border rugby at the end of the season.”
Jonathan Jones, Chairman of the Premiership Clubs commented “As a Premiership group of teams we are delighted with the faith and investment shown by the new sponsor Indigo Group and the continued support of broadcasters BBC and S4C, all of which are significant brands and now stakeholders in the Premiership.
“This is further endorsement of both the quality of rugby and development pathway that the Indigo Group Premiership provides for players, coaches and referees as well as truly representing the geography of Wales and its communities.
“And now with the prospect of playing cross boarder competition against the newly formed semi-professional teams from Scotland further raises the competition level and profile of the Indigo Group Premiership, which has already played a major role in the development of the game in Wales over the last 15 years.
“We look forward to working alongside our stakeholders and the WRU in investing and developing the league further in line with these exciting opportunities”.
Merthyr and Cardiff begin defence of titles at RGC
The Indigo Group Premiership fixtures for 2019/20 have been published with triple champions Merthyr heading north to launch the defence of their title at RGC on the weekend of Saturday 7 September. They then play hosts in Round One of the Specsavers Cup, welcoming Pontypridd to The Wern on the weekend of September 14.
Head coach Dale McIntosh said, “First and foremost, we are all excited about the new season. Having 12 teams in the league will make it a stronger competition, I think we all produced some great rugby for the TV games last season and look forward to that level of profile again this season. We will look forward to the challenge of a new, cross-border competition and give the Scottish teams the respect they deserve.
”RGC is always a tough place to go but we are comfortable with where we are as a squad and will be ready for whatever comes our way at the start of the season,” said McIntosh.
The Indigo Group Premiership season will get an explosive start with a string of local derbies set to light up the fixture list as Cardiff host Pontypridd at the Arms Park, Carmarthen Quins welcome arch-rivals Llandovery, Swansea entertain Llanelli at St Helen’s and Newport head to Ebbw Vale’s Eugene Cross Park. There will be one more round of Indigo Premiership matches in September and then three in October.
There will be automatic relegation for one Indigo Group Premiership club – providing the winner of the Specsavers Championship meets the A Licence criteria.
Last season’s runners-up, Cardiff, open their account with three traditional heavyweight fixtures as they head to Parc y Scarlets to face Llanelli in round two before hosting Swansea in October. The Whites shocked them last season when they ended their 14 match unbeaten run with a 20-17 victory at St Helen’s. They open their Cup defence away at RGC.
Head coach Steve Law, who will again be supported by Gethin Jenkins and Rhys Thomas, with James Dixon coming in as backs coach said, “I expect the standard of rugby in the new, streamlined Indigo Group Premiership to go up with the reduced number of teams and the jeopardy of relegation. Pontypridd will always be a mouth-watering prospect to start the season, followed by Llanelli who survived the play-off last season.”
The Round One draw for the newly-named Specsavers Cup has also been made and sees defending Specsavers Cup champions Cardiff begin their bid to make it back-to-back titles with a visit to north Wales outfit RGC 1404 in Round One.
Law’s Blue and Blacks claimed cup glory last season with a thrilling victory over Merthyr at Principality Stadium as they lifted their first silverware since 2009.
Cardiff will travel up the A470 knowing full well what a cup clash in Colwyn Bay is all about. In the 2018-19 campaign, the capital side emerged 27-15 winners there in round two.
Law added, “We probably achieved more last season than expected with the Cup win which did so much for us as a team and for the supporters, and finishing second in the league. Having said that we are certainly ambitious for the coming season.
“To begin our Specsavers Cup defence at RGC will be tough – especially given the hiding we got in our final game of the season. I think the standard of all teams will improve this season.”
Dale McIntosh added, “Pontypridd is a tough ask for the first round of the Specsavers Cup. Personally, I’m gutted only one of us will progress further but it’s sure to be a cracking day for the teams and supporters.”
The 13 round one fixtures for the 2019-20 tournament will take place on the weekend of September 14 with a mouth-watering clash between Merthyr and Pontypridd at The Wern.
The men from Sardis Road – alongside Cardiff – pushed last season’s Premiership champions Merthyr all the way in the league last season and will no doubt want to knock out the Ironmen at the first stage on their own turf.
Dale McIntosh’s Merthyr were stopped from sealing a second straight league and cup double by Cardiff and will want to reclaim their crown.
The only other all-Premiership fixture in round one will see Newport host Carmarthen Quins at Rodney Parade while there are notable chances for Championship sides to cause a big upset.
Bargoed will travel to the Talbot Athletic Ground to face Aberavon, Narbeth will visit Eugene Cross Park to meet Ebbw Vale, and Championship winners Pontypool are at home to Swansea.
The remaining round one ties see Cardiff Met clash with Ystrad Rhondda, Ystalyfera visit Llandovery, and Neath go head to head with Trebanos.
TATA Steel against Bedwas, Beddau against Bridgend, Maesteg Quins against Llanelli and Glamorgan Wanderers’ visit to Cross Keys complete the draw.
CLICK HERE to view full Indigo Group Premiership draw
Specsavers Cup Round One draw:
RGC v Cardiff
Aberavon v Bargoed
Cardiff Met v Ystrad Rhondda
Newport v Carmarthen
Llandovery v Ystalyfera
Neath v Trebanos
Tata Steel v Bedwas
Ebbw Vale v Narberth
Pontypool v Swansea
Beddau v Bridgend
Merthyr v Pontypridd
Maesteg Quins v Llanelli
Cross Keys v Glamorgan Wdrs
