Welsh rugby will take a step back in time this week when rivalry is resumed in the resurrected Welsh Districts Cup.
Seven of the nine Districts that make up the WRU are involved, with three of them combining to form a West Wales RU squad for a tournament that will feature five sides in its first season back in action. The only Districts not involved this season are Pembrokeshire and North Wales.
“When we consulted with the clubs and players during our research for the union’s community strategy, many players told us they have aspirations to play at a higher level. This includes players from below the Premiership and Championship levels,” said WRU community rugby director, Geraint John.
“As well as providing players with a new challenge, this form of competition helps the growth and development of all coaches, referees and volunteers. It helps to bring communities together.
“One week they could be playing against each other while during this competition they are supporting each other to beat another district. An opportunity to have mid-week games under floodlights is something these players currently don’t have.
“I’m excited to see how the concept develops and it is vital we encourage Pembrokeshire and North Wales to come into the fold as soon as they feel able. Once it is established as an all-Wales tournament, then who knows where it might lead.”
All matches are fitted in during the week in the build-up to Welsh internationals during the Autumn Nations Series and Six Nations periods. The tournament kicks-off tomorrow (Thurs), with Central Glamorgan hosting West Wales at Aberavon’s Talbot Athletic ground (7.30pm kick-off).
“We ran some pilot fixtures last season and we discovered there is a big appetite from the players, coaches, and within the Districts themselves, for a chance to be involved in representative rugby,” said WRU board member Chris Morgan, who represents District D.
“It is something we have to build on. We’ve started with players from clubs in Divisions 3,4 and 5 as a pilot last season to test the water and we have a proper competition structure for this season.
“The game in the community largely stops during the Autumn Nations Series and Six Nations. That’s nobody’s fault, it is just the way our season is structured in the northern hemisphere,” added Morgan.
“We want to ensure there is a proper rugby offering for players during those periods. We see this possibly developing into a National District Championship, somewhere that can be a shop window for players who want to step up a level.”
The original inter-district tournament began in 1955 and was named after the donor of the magnificent silver trophy, Lt Col Percy Howells. Howells served as president of Pembroke County and Pembrokeshire & District Rugby Union and shortly before his death Tenby United RFC.
He was Pembrokeshire’s first representative on the WRU and became President of the union in 1959. One of the leading public figures in Tenby life, he was a silver and goldsmith of considerable repute.
The tournament fell into abeyance earlier this century and nobody knows where the Percy Howells Cup ended up. An exhaustive search has come up short, but Morgan is hoping it may still emerge from clubhouse across Wales.
“With the WRU archivist, Peter Owen, we’ve been trying to locate the Percy Howells Cup. Peter eventually got his hands on the old South Wales Challenge Cup and the Welsh Counties Cup, so it would be great to add a third to his list,” said Morgan.
“We believe it might have been held by Aberavon & District before the tournament folded, but we remain hopeful of getting it back to ultimately present to our champions.”
Central Glamorgan: A Thomas (Nantymoel); A Davies (Tonmawr), K Townsend (Nantymoel), J Howells (Glyncorrwg), T Gregory (Bryncoch); R Davies (Nantymoel, captain); J Jones (Tonna), B Baker-Rees (Tonmawr), K Eley (Aberavon GS), K Tomlinson (Glyncorrwg), M Evans (Taibach), E Cromeer (Aberavon GS), G Tremlett (Maesteg), W Brown (Tonmawr) Reps: L Morris (Glyncorfrrwg), D Kelly (Neath Ath), S Ludlow (Glyncorrwg), J Burns (Bryncoch), J Thomas (Bryncoch), A Lloyd (Cefn Cribbwr), E Evans (Bryncoch), T George (Maesteg)
West Wales: Backs – S Castle (Abercrave), L Jones (Vardre), S Price (Tumble), D Wats (Penygroes), J Garland (Vardre), S Hiddlestone (Furnace Utd), C Roche (Vardre), A Roberts (Penygroes), L Humphreys (Vardre), A Williams (Amman Utd), L Marsh (Penygroes); Forwards – R Phillips (Amman Utd), G Clark (Amman Utd), C Lewis (Amman Utd), R Jones (Alltwen), L Thomas (Vardre), R Thomas (Penygroes), K Velardo (Penlan), T Thorneycroft (Amman Utd), L Williams (Llandeilo), J Colliee (Vardre), R James (Abercrave), F Cook (Bynea), D Thomas (Crynant), S Roberts (Trimsaran), J Hapgood (Abercrave)
Welsh Inter District Cup Fixtures
Round 1
03.11.22: Central Glamorgan v West Wales (Aberavon, 7.30pm)
Round 2
16.11.22: West Wales v Monmouthshire (Morriston, 7.30pm)
18.12.22: East District v Central Glamorgan (Glamorgan Wanderers, 7.15pm)
Round 3
25.11.22: Mid District v East District (Penygraig, 7.30pm)
Round 4
01.02.23: West Wales v East District (Morriston, 7.30pm)
02.02.23: Central Glamorgan v Mid District (Maester, 7.30pm)
Round 5
08.02.23: East District v Mounmouthshire (Glamorgan Wanderers, 7.15pm)
08.02.23: Mid District v West Wales (TBC 7.30pm)
Round 6
22.02.23: Monmouthshire v Central Glamorgan (Blaina, 7.30pm)
TBC: Monmouthshire v Mid District