Having reacted to feedback from the clubs John says the WRU have now devised a season long programme that will create a high standard of competition, breathing space at key times in the campaign and plenty of local rivalry.
“Happy new season to you all – and what a season it is going to be! More teams, a new cup system and a chance for more clubs than ever before to win a golden ticket to play at the Principality Stadium. After the trauma of COVID, rugby is ready to make a full return.
“Firstly, I’d like to thank all of you for supporting the game so strongly and passionately over the past three years during one of the most difficult periods in the 141-year history of the WRU,” he said.
“So many clubs played a part in helping others during the pandemic, proving once again that rugby clubs are the heart and soul of communities across the length and breadth of Wales.
“It has been quite some achievement to be returning to a full blown season, the first since 2018-19, with not only the same number of clubs, but also nine additional teams in a re-vamped league programme. The 2022-23 campaign will once again test the resolve and playing pool at each club given the number of matches compared to last season will double.
“Last season we had a record number of players registered and we want this upward trend to continue so that all games can be played and completed. To help in this process the WRU will be monitoring players throughout the season using digital team sheets. This scheme will be trialled with some clubs and eventually rolled out for all clubs to complete.
“The first step in this process is to ensure that ALL players are properly registered before the season starts. For those clubs required to fill in the digital team sheets during the season, their help in returning them fully completed and on time would be greatly appreciated.”
WHAT’S BACK
– Home and away fixtures in each league
– Promotion from each National League division and from Championship
to Premiership
– Trophies for all league winners
WHAT’S NEW
– Each Division, barring two in the West, will be numbered, rather than lettered
– The cup competitions have been expanded to give more teams a chance of playing at the home of Welsh rugby, Principality Stadium *subject to availability*
– No relegation
– Three teams will be promoted from all National League divisions except in the North (no promotion from Division 1; promotion and relegation dependent on teams in Divs 2-3)
– Division 3 in north Wales has been split into 3 North East and 3 North West to bring 2nd XV teams in to the system to provide stronger competition and interest
– WRU Athletic Conferences have been re-introduced to protect the growth of male participation to enable male rugby in Wales to thrive. This enables a revised, exciting playing offer for adult non-1st team rugby players and enables transition and retention into and from 1st team rugby.
THE INDIGO PREMIERSHIP
– There will be prize money on offer for the top two teams in the regular league season
– Play-offs return for the top two teams to determine the overall champions
– There will also be prize money for the Play-Off finalists
– Play offs will be 1 v 4 and 2 v 3
– No relegation
ADMIRAL CHAMPIONSHIP
– Two teams will be promoted from the Championship to the Premiership, which is expanding to 14 teams for the 2023-24 season subject to correct criteria
ADMIRAL NATIONAL LEAGUES
– There were 24 Divisions in last season’s Admiral National league programme involving 275 clubs. For 2022-23, the numbers will rise to 25 Divisions, with Division 3 North being split into two to accommodate more teams who will now compete in 3 North East and 3 North West.
– Letters are out and numbers are back, except for 3 West A and 3 West B.
– There will be promotion, but no relegation, other than in the North
– New teams in the National Leagues this season are: Magor RFC, Bro Gwernant RFC, Porthmadog RFC, COBRA 2nd XV, Bala 2nd XV, Rhyl 2nd XV, Caernarfon 2nd XV, Llandudno 2nd XV, Bethesda 2nd XV
NEW CUP COMPETITIONS
– There will be 7 Cup competitions this season, instead of 4
– Premiership Cup, Championship Cup, Division 1 – Division 5 Cups
– Each Division will have its own respective competition
– There will be 75 different Groups and sets of fixtures of 3-4 teams across all competitions –
Premiership Cup: 12 clubs / 4 Groups
Championship Cup: Knock-Out format
Division 1 Cup: 59 clubs / 15 Groups
Division 2 Cup: 48 clubs / 12 Groups
Division 3 Cup: 70 clubs / 18 Groups
Division 4 Cup: 35 clubs / 9 Groups
Division 5 Cup: 60 clubs / 17 Groups
– There will be pool matches to begin with and then a knock-out
– Subject to availability, the goal is to play as many finals as possible at Principality Stadium
Rhys Spanswick of Penallta powers toward the try line at Principality Stadium
COMMUNICATION
– Links between the WRU and the clubs grew over lockdown using the medium of Zoom, giving the union the chance to get closer to the issues affecting the membership
– The WRU have brought in Angharad Collins to be ‘Head of Places’, a role that will see her lead the implementation of the club development plan
– A key element of the community rugby strategy, the primary focus of which is to make Welsh rugby clubs sustainable and fit for purpose, she is now a new key contact
– We encourange you to keep in touch with the relevant department that can help your club
– We need to work together to help each other
– If your club is reaching an anniversary milestone (ie 50, 75, 100, 125 or 150 years) then please let us know what your plans are to mark the occasion
– If you have a good news story within your club, and would like to have it placed on the WRU website and social channels, then please contact the Media Department
RESPECT & SUPPORT
– We want to promote ‘POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR’ in all aspects of our game.
– We encourage the values of friendship, sportsmanship and respect.
– Without match officials there is no game, so please ensure your players, coaches and fans give them the respect they deserve.
– The WRU, through its various community departments, is here to provide you with as much support as possible both on and off the pitch.
– The goal is to make our game as enjoyable, attractive, fun, inclusive and safe as possible for players, coaches, referees and volunteers.
– A game that people want to be involved in and take part and support. Please help us to grow participation and support the next generation.
We are all set for a great start to the new season with a host of local derbies rostered for the early rounds to give fans something to really shout about. The S4C game on the first weekend of the Indigo Prem will be Pontypridd v Cardiff at Sardis Road.
In Division 1 West Central the top two teams from the last campaign, Skewen and Bonymaen, will clash in Round 1 and the following weekend, Saturday, 10 September, Llangennech, who finished on top of Division 1 West, will host Newcastle Emlyn, who went through the league season undefeated but ran out of matches. Newcastle Emlyn ended last season on a high by beating Llangennech in the West Wales cup Final to add to their league triumph over them.
Move forward to 12 November and Newbridge will host Penallta in a battle of the two unbeaten teams from Division 1 East last season.
Further down the leagues, the two unbeaten teams in Division 2 East last season, Ynysddu and Talywain, will meet at Talywain. In the North, reigning champions Llandudno will host last season’s second placed team, Nant Conwy, at home on 8 October.
Our challenge at the WRU is to respond to the desire of the community game to get the chance to play more games in their locality and to give more teams the chance of playing at Principality Stadium.
By reacting to what you have told us I hope we have devised a season long programme that will create a high standard of competition, breathing space at key times in the campaign and plenty of local rivalry.
The 2022-23 could be one of the most important in the history of our game. Seize it with both hands and, above all, enjoy it!
