Welsh Championship


The WRU National Championship is the second tier of professional rugby union in Wales. The league was reformed by the Welsh Rugby Union in 2012.
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. 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. Tonmawr, citing financial reasons, opted not to take part in the new league at all and re-entered themselves into Division Six.

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'. Pontypool had finished 12th in the previous campaign, above rivals Bedwas RFC and level on points with historic rivals Newport RFC.

2018–19 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Pontypool RFC15150052920332673
2Ystrad Rhondda RFC1814044493628765
3Narberth RFC17140338926012963
4Cardiff Met RFC19121647532814759
5Bedlinog RFC16619276350-7433
6Maesteg Harlequins RFC13706234289-5529
7Trebanos RFC155010288330-4229
8Newbridge RFC185112308436-12828
9Tata Steel RFC144010349378-2926
10Beddau RFC174013320422-10226
11Rhydyfelin RFC154110235337-10224
12Newcastle Emlyn RFC154011273430-15721

Correct as of 26 February 2019

2017–18 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Pontypool RFC222200926239687107
2Narberth RFC22141759543915672
3Trebanos RFC22140850133516669
4Tata Steel RFC2213095464836366
5Newbridge RFC2212010460461-158
6Bedlinog RFC2210210480501-2158
7Rhydyfelin RFC2210012391435-4449
8Newcastle Emlyn RFC229112470633-16347
9Beddau RFC228014379543-16443
10Cardiff Met RFC227213473638-16540
11Skewen RFC 227015351535-18434
12Glynneath RFC 223019292622-33017

"r" denotes relegation to the WRU Division One East or WRU Division One West

2016–17 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Pontypool RFC22210180527952698
2Narberth RFC22170564936228781
3Tata Steel RFC22140857845112770
4Beddau RFC22140853539713870
5Newcastle Emlyn RFC2210111411504-9354
6Cardiff Met RFC2210012435562-12746
7Newbridge RFC229013403534-13145
8Glynneath RFC2210012339488-14944
9Bedlinog RFC228113407440-3344
10Skewen RFC228113314418-10441
11The Wanderers 227114405490-8541
12Dunvant RFC 222020434790-35616

2015–16 season

2014–15 season

Winners

SeasonWinners
2012-13Ebbw Vale RFC
2013-14Ebbw Vale RFC
2014-15Bargoed RFC
2015-16Merthyr RFC
2016-17Pontypool RFC
2017-18Pontypool RFC
2018-19Pontypool RFC