2018–19 Principality Premiership
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| 2018–19 Principality Premiership | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  Wales |
| Date | 1 September 2018 – 18 May 2019 |
| Champions | Merthyr (3rd title) |
| Relegated | Bedwas Cross Keys Bargoed Neath |
| Matches played | 240 |
The 2018–19 Principality Premiership was the third season of the new format of the Principality Premiership, the top tier of club rugby in Wales run by the Welsh Rugby Union. It was contested by sixteen Welsh clubs following an expansion from twelve teams at the start of the 2016–17 season. The 2018–19 season saw the end of "ring-fencing" and relegation returned for this season with four teams being automatically relegated to the 2019–20 WRU Championship and a fifth team avoiding relegation by winning a play-off. The competition was won by Merthyr for the third consecutive year.
Structure
[edit]The structure this year has reverted to a traditional league. Each team will play each other team on a home and away basis for a total of 30 games. League points are awarded as such – 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw and 0 for a loss. Teams can also earn an additional bonus point by scoring four or more tries in a match and/or losing by less than seven points. This season sees the return of relegation from the Premiership after two seasons of ring fencing. The bottom four sides will automatically be relegated to the Championship for the 2019–20 season. The 12th placed side will play-off against the winners of the 2018–19 WRU Championship at a neutral venue to determine the 12th team in next season's Premiership. If the winners of the Championship do not have an 'A License' necessary to compete in the Premiership, then the 12th placed team will remain in the Premiership for next season.[1]
Teams
[edit]The same 16 teams that competed the previous season competed again this season. Merthyr are the reigning champions and are aiming to win the league for the third year in succession.
Orange = Dragons
Blue = Cardiff Blues
Black = Ospreys
Red = Scarlets
- RGC acts as a de facto club representing North Wales
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberavon | Talbot Athletic Ground | 3,000 | Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot |
| Bargoed | Bargoed Park | 1,500 | Bargoed, Caerphilly |
| Bedwas | Bridge Field | 2,000 | Bedwas, Caerphilly |
| Bridgend | Brewery Field | 8,000 | Bridgend |
| Cardiff | Cardiff Arms Park | 12,125 | Cardiff |
| Carmarthen Quins | Carmarthen Park | 3,000 | Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire |
| Cross Keys | Pandy Park | 3,000 | Crosskeys, Caerphilly |
| Ebbw Vale | Eugene Cross Park | 8,000 | Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent |
| Llandovery | Church Bank Playing Fields | 3,000 | Llandovery, Carmarthenshire |
| Llanelli | Parc y Scarlets | 14,870 | Llanelli, Carmarthenshire |
| Merthyr | The Wern | 4,500 | Merthyr Tydfil |
| Neath | The Gnoll | 6,000 | Neath, Neath Port Talbot |
| Newport | Rodney Parade | 11,676 | Newport |
| Pontypridd | Sardis Road | 7,861 | Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| RGC 1404 | Eirias Stadium | 6,000 | Colwyn Bay, Conwy |
| Swansea | St Helen's | 4,500 | Swansea |
Standings
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merthyr (C) | 30 | 23 | 0 | 7 | 885 | 591 | +294 | 130 | 74 | 23 | 2 | 117 | Champions |
| 2 | Cardiff | 30 | 22 | 1 | 7 | 991 | 660 | +331 | 129 | 87 | 17 | 4 | 111 | |
| 3 | Pontypridd | 30 | 22 | 0 | 8 | 1015 | 580 | +435 | 140 | 76 | 18 | 4 | 110 | |
| 4 | Llandovery | 30 | 21 | 1 | 8 | 854 | 551 | +303 | 112 | 67 | 15 | 3 | 104 | |
| 5 | Ebbw Vale | 30 | 20 | 1 | 9 | 762 | 594 | +168 | 95 | 73 | 9 | 4 | 95 | |
| 6 | Aberavon | 30 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 698 | 603 | +95 | 98 | 81 | 10 | 4 | 90 | |
| 7 | Newport | 30 | 17 | 2 | 11 | 757 | 700 | +57 | 97 | 96 | 11 | 5 | 88 | |
| 8 | RGC 1404 | 30 | 14 | 1 | 15 | 859 | 650 | +209 | 121 | 83 | 16 | 11 | 85 | |
| 9 | Swansea | 30 | 16 | 0 | 14 | 674 | 594 | +80 | 91 | 75 | 13 | 4 | 81 | |
| 10 | Carmarthen Quins | 30 | 13 | 1 | 16 | 637 | 584 | +53 | 77 | 67 | 8 | 9 | 71 | |
| 11 | Bridgend | 30 | 12 | 0 | 18 | 689 | 714 | −25 | 87 | 90 | 9 | 9 | 66 | |
| 12 | Llanelli | 30 | 12 | 1 | 17 | 679 | 723 | −44 | 91 | 96 | 10 | 3 | 63 | Relegation play-off |
| 13 | Bedwas (R) | 30 | 12 | 1 | 17 | 681 | 835 | −154 | 86 | 113 | 8 | 4 | 62 | Relegated to 2019–20 WRU Championship |
| 14 | Cross Keys (R) | 30 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 586 | 1093 | −507 | 75 | 160 | 9 | 5 | 36 | |
| 15 | Bargoed (R) | 30 | 6 | 0 | 24 | 576 | 1003 | −427 | 76 | 134 | 8 | 3 | 35 | |
| 16 | Neath (R) | 30 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 406 | 1274 | −868 | 51 | 184 | 2 | 3 | 3[a] |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Number of tries scored
- Ratio between points for:points against
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Promotion/relegation play-off
[edit]The 12th placed team of the Premiership (Llanelli) faced the winner of the Championship (Pontypool) to determine who will be in next season's Premiership. The play-off was a one-off game played at a neutral venue. The venue was announced as Aberavon's home ground the Tablbot Athletic Ground on 7 May 2019.[3] Llanelli won the game and would therefore remain in the Premiership for the 2019–20 season. Pontypool would contest the Championship for the 2019–20 season
References
[edit]- ^ "THE WELSH RUGBY UNION NATIONAL LEAGUE RULES 2018-20" (PDF). Wru.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Statement - Neath". Welsh Rugby Union. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "Details for Principality Premiership play-off released by Welsh Rugby Union | Pontypool RFC".