WRU Division One West

The Welsh Rugby Union Division One West (also called the SWALEC Division One West for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented for the 1995/96 season. The league was formed in 2006 when the WRU divided the old Division One into two leagues, West and East

WRU Division One West
Founded
1995
Nation
 Wales
Promotion To
Welsh Championship
Relegation To
WRU Division Two West
Number of Teams
12
Level on Pyramid
Level 2
Current Champions (2014-15)
Newcastle Emlyn RFC
Website
National Leagues

Competition format and sponsorship

Competition

There are 12 clubs in the WRU Division One West. During the course of a season (which lasts from September to April) each club plays the others twice, once at their home ground and once at that of their opponents for a total of 22 games for each club, with a total of 132 games in each season. Teams receive four points for a win and two point for a draw, an additional bonus point is awarded to either team if they score four tries or more in a single match. No points are awarded for a loss though the losing team can gain a bonus point for finishing the match within seven points of the winning team. Teams are ranked by total points, then by the number of wins, then by the number of tries scored and then by their points ratio (points for, divided by points against). At the end of each season, the club which finishes top (as determined by the above criteria) is crowned as champion.

Promotion

For the 2011/12 season five clubs will be promoted to the new National Championship. Unlike past seasons, for 2011/12 the criteria for promotion is not based on the current season's results, but instead takes into account the past five seasons results. Each club is awarded a meritocracy score depending on their league placings over the past five seasons and the five clubs with the highest meritocracy scores are promoted.

Relegation

For the 2011/12 season there will be no relegation. Instead the seven clubs who are not promoted into the new National Championship via the meritocracy criteria detailed above will remain in Division One West for the 2012/13 season.

Sponsorship

In 2008 the Welsh Rugby Union announced a new sponsorship deal for the club rugby leagues with SWALEC.[1] The sponsorship is a three-year deal that will continue until the 2010/11 season at a cost of £1 million (GBP). The leagues sponsored are the WRU Divisions one through to six.

Winners

SeasonWinners
2006-07Bonymaen RFC
2007-08Tonmawr RFC
2008-09Carmarthen Quins
2009-10Tonmawr RFC
2010-11Bridgend
2011-12Corus (Port Talbot) RFC
2012-13Tondu RFC
2013-14Glynneath RFC
2014-15Newcastle Emlyn RFC

References

  1. "SWALEC becomes new power behind Welsh rugby". WRU.co.uk. 26 February 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  2. "ASDA Join Welsh Rugby Community Programmes". CardiffBlues.com. 28 August 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
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