Welsh Premiership & Club Rugby: What's the solution
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Welsh Premiership & Club Rugby: What's the solution
Currently we have the following
Welsh Premiership
Pontypridd (Blues)
Carmarthen (Scarlets)
Cross Keys (Dragons)
Llandovery (Scarlets)
Llanelli (Scarlets)
Bedwas (Dragons)
Cardiff (Blues)
Newport (Dragons)
Bridgend (Ospreys)
Aberavon (Ospreys)
Neath (Ospreys)
Swansea (Ospreys)
Championship
Ebbw Vale (Dragons)
RGC
Bargoed (Dragons)
Cardiff Met (Blues)
Narbeth (Scarlets)
Pontypool (Dragons)
Tata Steel (Ospreys)
Bridgend Athletic (Ospreys)
Llanharan (Blues)
Tondu (Ospreys)
Newbridge (Dragons)
Blackwood (Dragons)
Bonymaen (Ospreys)
Beddau (Blues)
I think we should have a 9 team premiership. Consisting of the top two clubs from each region plus RGC 1404 (who would be ringfenced). The benefits of this is that it would condense the players needed at this level, improving the quality of the squads and therefore the standards of the game. There would still be qualification for BI cup.
Ponty (Blues)
Cardiff (Blues)
Carmarthen (Scarlets)
Llandovery (Scarlets)
Cross Keys (Dragons)
Bedwas (Dragons)
Bridgend (Ospreys)
Aberavon (Ospreys)
RGC
Beneath that a structure based on regions so call the next level regional 1 with the top one playing off against the bottom placed team from their region in the division above. This would also improve the standard at the 2nd tier while also giving aspirational clubs across all four regions the opportunity to get into the premiership.
Scarlets 1
Llanelli, Narbeth, Carmarthen Athletic, Kidwelly, Waunarlwydd, whitland, llangennech, crymych, Ammanford
Ospreys 1
Neath, Swansea, Tata Steel, Bridgend Athletic, Tondu, Bonymaen, Glynneath, Kenfig Hill, Loughor
Blues 1
Llanharan, Beddau, Merthyr, Ystrad Rhondda, Rumney, Heol y Cyw, Ynysybwl, The Wanderers, Treorchy
Dragons 1
Newport, Ebbw Vale, Bargoed, Pontypool, Newbridge, Blackwood, Penallta, Nelson, Abertillery BG
The above have all been selected by their highest position in each region.
All levels below this would be organised in the same way with promotion and relegation as happens now.
There are some drawbacks to this, for example Newport currently in the prem and Abertillery BG are currently in Division 2 would be one heck of a mismatch to start, but im sure ABG wouldnt complain with the history and the local rivalry, plus you would expect Newport to win this division and would then have a playoff.
The other potential drawback would be the number of games, each division is 9 teams, meaning only 18 fixtures, however for the prem level there would be BI cup for some, however if the season could be arranged as far as possible for when regions arent playing it would mean more players being released to prem clubs who would in turn release players down the pyramid as currently happens with permits etc. And IMO it would be better to play 18 top level fixtures per season than more lower quality
Welsh Premiership
Pontypridd (Blues)
Carmarthen (Scarlets)
Cross Keys (Dragons)
Llandovery (Scarlets)
Llanelli (Scarlets)
Bedwas (Dragons)
Cardiff (Blues)
Newport (Dragons)
Bridgend (Ospreys)
Aberavon (Ospreys)
Neath (Ospreys)
Swansea (Ospreys)
Championship
Ebbw Vale (Dragons)
RGC
Bargoed (Dragons)
Cardiff Met (Blues)
Narbeth (Scarlets)
Pontypool (Dragons)
Tata Steel (Ospreys)
Bridgend Athletic (Ospreys)
Llanharan (Blues)
Tondu (Ospreys)
Newbridge (Dragons)
Blackwood (Dragons)
Bonymaen (Ospreys)
Beddau (Blues)
I think we should have a 9 team premiership. Consisting of the top two clubs from each region plus RGC 1404 (who would be ringfenced). The benefits of this is that it would condense the players needed at this level, improving the quality of the squads and therefore the standards of the game. There would still be qualification for BI cup.
Ponty (Blues)
Cardiff (Blues)
Carmarthen (Scarlets)
Llandovery (Scarlets)
Cross Keys (Dragons)
Bedwas (Dragons)
Bridgend (Ospreys)
Aberavon (Ospreys)
RGC
Beneath that a structure based on regions so call the next level regional 1 with the top one playing off against the bottom placed team from their region in the division above. This would also improve the standard at the 2nd tier while also giving aspirational clubs across all four regions the opportunity to get into the premiership.
Scarlets 1
Llanelli, Narbeth, Carmarthen Athletic, Kidwelly, Waunarlwydd, whitland, llangennech, crymych, Ammanford
Ospreys 1
Neath, Swansea, Tata Steel, Bridgend Athletic, Tondu, Bonymaen, Glynneath, Kenfig Hill, Loughor
Blues 1
Llanharan, Beddau, Merthyr, Ystrad Rhondda, Rumney, Heol y Cyw, Ynysybwl, The Wanderers, Treorchy
Dragons 1
Newport, Ebbw Vale, Bargoed, Pontypool, Newbridge, Blackwood, Penallta, Nelson, Abertillery BG
The above have all been selected by their highest position in each region.
All levels below this would be organised in the same way with promotion and relegation as happens now.
There are some drawbacks to this, for example Newport currently in the prem and Abertillery BG are currently in Division 2 would be one heck of a mismatch to start, but im sure ABG wouldnt complain with the history and the local rivalry, plus you would expect Newport to win this division and would then have a playoff.
The other potential drawback would be the number of games, each division is 9 teams, meaning only 18 fixtures, however for the prem level there would be BI cup for some, however if the season could be arranged as far as possible for when regions arent playing it would mean more players being released to prem clubs who would in turn release players down the pyramid as currently happens with permits etc. And IMO it would be better to play 18 top level fixtures per season than more lower quality
GavinDragon- Posts : 2574
Join date : 2011-05-03
Age : 38
Location : Monmouthshire
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