Welsh Championship
The WRU National Championship (or Specsavers Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the second tier of professional rugby union in Wales. The league was reformed by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 2012.
| Founded | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Country | .svg.png){kind=small} |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Relegation to | WRU Division One East WRU Division One West |
| Domestic cup(s) | WRU Challenge Cup |
| Current champions | Pontypool RFC |
| Most championships | Pontypool (3 Titles since 2012) |
| TV partners | BBC Wales, S4C, BBC Sport |
| Website | WRU National Championship |
 | |
The current National Championship champions are Pontypool RFC, who won consecutive titles in 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19.
History
In 2012, the new division was formed from the restructuring of the Welsh Premier Division. The Premier Division was 'slimmed down' to 12 teams with Pontypool RFC and Tonmawr RFC relegated from the division. Tonmawr had already made the decision to opt out of the new league and would start the 2012–13 season in Division Six.
The National Championship is the second tier, which lies below the first tier Welsh Premier Division in Welsh club rugby. Above Welsh club rugby sides are the four regions, the Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, and Dragons, as part of regional rugby, who instead compete in the Pro14.
Restructuring process
The teams for the league would be decided on three factors. Firstly, the holding of an 'A Licence' based on stadium criteria. The signing of a 'Participation Agreement' and judged on league results over the previous six seasons. It was originally decided that the Premiership would reduce in size to ten teams.[1] It was announced that four clubs, Pontypool, Tonmwar, Bridgend Ravens and Carmarthen Quins RFC had not achieved the required criteria to be included into the new league. However, pressure from Ospreys and Scarlets backers led to the league being extended to 12 teams with Bridgend and Camarthen included.[2] Tonmawr, citing financial reasons, opted not to take part in the new league at all and re-entered themselves into Division Six.[3]
2012 Pontypool legal challenge
The new league came under scrutiny in 2012 when Pontypool RFC launched a legal challenge to avoid being the only club relegated to the new division, which they ultimately lost on the grounds of 'meritocracy'.[4][5] Pontypool had finished 12th in the previous campaign, above rivals Bedwas RFC and level on points with historic rivals Newport RFC.
2018–19 season
| POS | TEAM | PL | W | D | L | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pontypool RFC | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 529 | 203 | 326 | 73 |
| 2 | Ystrad Rhondda RFC | 18 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 449 | 362 | 87 | 65 |
| 3 | Narberth RFC | 17 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 389 | 260 | 129 | 63 |
| 4 | Cardiff Met RFC | 19 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 475 | 328 | 147 | 59 |
| 5 | Bedlinog RFC | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 276 | 350 | -74 | 33 |
| 6 | Maesteg Harlequins RFC | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 234 | 289 | -55 | 29 |
| 7 | Trebanos RFC | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 288 | 330 | -42 | 29 |
| 8 | Newbridge RFC | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 308 | 436 | -128 | 28 |
| 9 | Tata Steel RFC | 14 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 349 | 378 | -29 | 26 |
| 10 | Beddau RFC | 17 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 320 | 422 | -102 | 26 |
| 11 | Rhydyfelin RFC | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 235 | 337 | -102 | 24 |
| 12 | Newcastle Emlyn RFC | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 273 | 430 | -157 | 21 |
Correct as of 26 February 2019
2017–18 season
| POS | TEAM | PL | W | D | L | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pontypool RFC | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 926 | 239 | 687 | 107 |
| 2 | Narberth RFC | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 595 | 439 | 156 | 72 |
| 3 | Trebanos RFC | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 501 | 335 | 166 | 69 |
| 4 | Tata Steel RFC | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 546 | 483 | 63 | 66 |
| 5 | Newbridge RFC | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 460 | 461 | -1 | 58 |
| 6 | Bedlinog RFC | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 480 | 501 | -21 | 58 |
| 7 | Rhydyfelin RFC | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 391 | 435 | -44 | 49 |
| 8 | Newcastle Emlyn RFC | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 470 | 633 | -163 | 47 |
| 9 | Beddau RFC | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 379 | 543 | -164 | 43 |
| 10 | Cardiff Met RFC | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 473 | 638 | -165 | 40 |
| 11 | Skewen RFC (r) | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 351 | 535 | -184 | 34 |
| 12 | Glynneath RFC (r) | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 292 | 622 | -330 | 17 |
"r" denotes relegation to the WRU Division One East or WRU Division One West
2016–17 season
| POS | TEAM | PL | W | D | L | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pontypool RFC | 22 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 805 | 279 | 526 | 98 |
| 2 | Narberth RFC | 22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 649 | 362 | 287 | 81 |
| 3 | Tata Steel RFC | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 578 | 451 | 127 | 70 |
| 4 | Beddau RFC | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 535 | 397 | 138 | 70 |
| 5 | Newcastle Emlyn RFC | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 411 | 504 | -93 | 54 |
| 6 | Cardiff Met RFC | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 435 | 562 | -127 | 46 |
| 7 | Newbridge RFC | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 403 | 534 | -131 | 45 |
| 8 | Glynneath RFC | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 339 | 488 | -149 | 44 |
| 9 | Bedlinog RFC | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 407 | 440 | -33 | 44 |
| 10 | Skewen RFC | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 314 | 418 | -104 | 41 |
| 11 | The Wanderers (r) | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 405 | 490 | -85 | 41 |
| 12 | Dunvant RFC (r) | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 434 | 790 | -356 | 16 |
2015–16 season
| POS | TEAM | PL | W | D | L | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merthyr RFC | 26 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1192 | 289 | 903 | 118 |
| 2 | Swansea RFC | 26 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 859 | 402 | 457 | 108 |
| 3 | Bargoed RFC | 26 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 779 | 401 | 378 | 97 |
| 4 | RGC 1404 RFC | 26 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 928 | 460 | 468 | 96 |
| 5 | Pontypool RFC | 26 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 794 | 428 | 366 | 94 |
| 6 | Beddau RFC | 26 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 537 | 567 | -30 | 52 |
| 7 | Cardiff Met RFC | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 631 | 828 | -197 | 51 |
| 8 | Tata Steel RFC | 26 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 622 | 787 | -165 | 50 |
| 9 | Narberth RFC | 26 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 564 | 710 | -146 | 48 |
| 10 | Newcastle Emlyn RFC | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 538 | 668 | -130 | 47 |
| 11 | Newbridge RFC | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 501 | 686 | -185 | 47 |
| 12 | Glynneath RFC | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 461 | 767 | -306 | 45 |
| 13 | Bridgend Athletic RFC | 26 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 362 | 648 | -286 | 43 |
| 14 | Llanharan RFC | 26 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 277 | 1404 | -1127 | 7 |
2014–15 season
| POS | TEAM | PL | W | D | L | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bargoed RFC | 26 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 958 | 362 | 596 | 124 |
| 2 | Swansea RFC | 26 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 909 | 386 | 523 | 107 |
| 3 | Merthyr RFC | 26 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 671 | 452 | 219 | 89 |
| 4 | RGC 1404 RFC | 26 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 848 | 436 | 412 | 83 |
| 5 | Pontypool RFC | 26 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 639 | 483 | 156 | 77 |
| 6 | Narberth RFC | 26 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 542 | 562 | -20 | 70 |
| 7 | Cardiff Met RFC | 26 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 648 | 533 | 115 | 66 |
| 8 | Bridgend Athletic RFC | 26 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 496 | 465 | 31 | 65 |
| 9 | Tata Steel RFC | 26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 486 | 651 | -165 | 58 |
| 10 | Glynneath RFC | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 532 | 653 | -121 | 43 |
| 11 | Newbridge RFC | 26 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 479 | 777 | -298 | 39 |
| 12 | Llanharan RFC | 26 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 475 | 663 | -188 | 33 |
| 13 | Tondu RFC | 26 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 461 | 717 | -256 | 30 |
| 14 | Blackwood RFC | 26 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 368 | 1372 | -1004 | 20 |
Winners
| Season | Winners |
|---|---|
| 2012-13 | Ebbw Vale RFC |
| 2013-14 | Ebbw Vale RFC |
| 2014-15 | Bargoed RFC |
| 2015-16 | Merthyr RFC |
| 2016-17 | Pontypool RFC |
| 2017-18 | Pontypool RFC |
| 2018-19 | Pontypool RFC |
References
- "Premier Division to be Reduced to ten teams". Bbc.co.uk. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- "Bridgend and Camarthen to join extended league". Bbc.co.uk. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- "Tonmawr drop out of league". Thisissouthwales.co.uk. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- "Pontypool 'not good' enough for league". Bbc.co.uk. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- "Pontypool lose legal challenge". Bbc.co.uk. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.