Steve Law’s Blue & Blacks are seeking to retain the title they won on the last day of last season after a straight league battle, while this year they are seeking back-to-back titles via the play-off system having topped the league at the end of the 22 game series.
In addition, Cardiff are also hoping to complete the league and cup double having beaten Newport in the WRU Premiership Cup final at Principality Stadium.
THE TEAMS
Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Joe Goodchild, Ioan Evans, Arron Pinches, Dewi Cross; Harrison James, Tom Habberfield; Marc Thomas, Alun Rees, Scott Andrews, Sean Moore, Ethan Phillips, Ellis Thomas, Nathan Hudd, Morgan Allen (captain)
Reps: Evan Lloyd, Rhys Barratt, Freddie Barnes, Mackenzie Martin, Lucas De La Rua, Ethan Lloyd, Ryan Wilkins, Jacob LloydLlandovery: Jack Maynard; Harri Doel, Adam Warren, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Ioan Hughes, Lee Rees; Jamie Hughes, Dafydd Hughes, Berian Watkins, Jack Jones (captain), Griff Evans, Osian Davies, Stuart Worrall, Iestyn Rees
Reps: Ricky Guest, Dino Dallavalle, Geraint James, Joseff Powell, Lloyd Pike, Rhodri Wall, Kristian Jones, Dafydd Land
INDIGO PREMIERSHIP FINAL . . . DID YOU KNOW?
The Play-Off Final takes place at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday, 21 May (kick-off 5.15pm) to establish which is the best community club in Wales.
Cardiff are the reigning champions having won the league title last year in a straight league format.
Cardiff reached the final by beating Newport in the semi-final at Cardiff Arms Park – 21-7.
Llandovery qualified by beating Merthyr 16-13 at Church Bank. It will be their first shot at winning the Premier Division title.
The top two teams from the regular league season of 22 games have reached the final, which is being played at the home of the top ranked team in the league.
The two clubs have met three times already this season:
29 October: Cardiff 29 – 26 Llandovery IP
03 December: Llandovery 19 – 16 Cardiff PCup
02 March: Llandovery 37 – 20 Cardiff IP
Llandovery have won five and drawn one of the last 10 meetings between the two clubs in all competitions.
Llandovery head coach Euros Evans played for the Drovers in their 2007 Welsh Challenge Cup final win over Cardiff and was coach when they won the cup a second time against Carmarthen Quins in 2016.
Euros has been director of rugby at Coleg Sir Gar for 18 years and was named as WRU Premiership coach of the year in 2016.
Cardiff RFC head coach Steve Law has become a serial winner at the Arms Park since joining as head coach in 2017 from Bedwas. Two cups and one league title have already been delivered by his teams and in the COVID hit 2019/20 campaign Cardiff were on course to win the league when time was called as they held a seven-point lead.
WRU PREMIERSHIP
Season Champions
1990–91 Neath
1991–92 Swansea
1992–93 Llanelli
1993–94 Swansea
1994–95 Cardiff
1995–96 Neath
1996–97 Pontypridd
1997–98 Swansea
1998–99 Llanelli
1999–00 Cardiff *
2000–01 Swansea *
2001–02 Llanelli *
2002–03 Bridgend
2003–04 Newport
2004–05 Neath
2005–06 Neath
2006–07 Neath
2007–08 Neath
2008–09 Cardiff
2009–10 Neath
2010–11 Llanelli
2011–12 Pontypridd
2012–13 Pontypridd
2013–14 Pontypridd
2014–15 Pontypridd
2015–16 Ebbw Vale
2016–17 Merthyr
2017–18 Merthyr
2018–19 Merthyr
2019-20 Season cut short, title withheld
2020-21 Season cancelled
2021-22 Cardiff
*= Welsh-Scottish League winners
Premier Division Wins by Club
1 Neath (7) 1991, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
2 Pontypridd (5) 1997, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
3= Cardiff (4)* 1995, 2000, 2009, 2022
3= Llanelli (4) 1993, 1999, 2002, 2011
3= Swansea (4) 1992, 1994, 1998, 2001
6 Merthyr (3) 2017, 2018, 2019
7= Bridgend (1) 2003
7= Newport (1) 2004
7= Ebbw Vale (1) 2016
* Cardiff RFC were leading the 2019-20 table before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the championship was withheld.
