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South Wales Men's League: Difference between revisions

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==Winners==
==Winners==
{{see also|Rugby League Conference trophy winners}}


;[[Rugby League Conference|RLC]] Welsh Premier era
;[[Rugby League Conference|RLC]] Welsh Premier era
{{see also|Rugby League Conference trophy winners}}
* 2003: Bridgend Blue Bulls
* 2003: Bridgend Blue Bulls
* 2004: Bridgend Blue Bulls
* 2004: Bridgend Blue Bulls
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* 2023: South Wales Jets
* 2023: South Wales Jets


===Welsh Shield===
===Shield/Plate winners===


The South Wales Premiership has, on occasion, held a shield/plate competition for clubs who failed to reach the playoffs:
Secondary Welsh competition for teams who do not make the play-offs for the Welsh Premier. It has not been contested since 2005.


* 2004: Cardiff Demons
* 2004: Cardiff Demons
* 2005: Newport Titans (now Titans RLFC)
* 2005: Newport Titans (now Titans RLFC)

===Plate Final===

* 2009: Newport Titans 32 - 24 Dinefwr Sharks
* 2009: Newport Titans 32 - 24 Dinefwr Sharks



Revision as of 14:32, 2 June 2024

South Wales Premiership
Founded2003
Country Wales
Number of clubs8
Level on pyramid5
Promotion toNational Conference League via application to RFL
Domestic cup(s)Challenge Cup
Current championsSouth Wales Jets

The South Wales Premiership is the league for amateur clubs in southern Wales. Previously it was part of the Rugby League Conference but became standalone in 2012.

History

The Rugby League Conference (RLC) was founded in 1997 as the Southern Conference, a 10-team pilot league for teams in the South of England and English Midlands.

The RLC first expanded into Wales in 2001 when Cardiff Demons joined the South West division.

In 2003, the RLC expanded with the creation of the Welsh Premier division. This division had 6 teams in the inaugural season and marked the first all Welsh rugby league division.

The Welsh Premier division was split into two divisions East Wales and West Wales in 2006, though this decision was reversed for the following season.

The Welsh Conference Junior League began in 2009.

In 2010, due to the growth of the sport, a Championship division was formed which would function at one tier lower than the present Premier division. This Championship division featured teams from South Wales.

The RLC Welsh Championship division was given a re-structure following four West Wales clubs not fulfilling fixtures. Amman Valley Rhinos, Dinefwr Sharks, Swansea/Llanelli Dragons and West Wales Wild Boars were omitted and replaced with newly formed Dyffryn Devils.

In 2012 the league became the South Wales Premiership with the lower Championship division being abolished. 2012 also saw the creation of the North Wales Conference. This was part of large restructure of the RLC as the Conference League South was created.

From 2023, the winners of the competition will play the winners of the North Wales Conference for a place in the Challenge Cup. Due to logistical issues 2023 Champions (in their debut season), South Wales Jets were allocated the Welsh League place in the Challenge Cup

Source:[1][2]

Position in Pyramid

Teams

Eight teams will contest the 2024 season:[3]

Winners

RLC Welsh Premier era
  • 2003: Bridgend Blue Bulls
  • 2004: Bridgend Blue Bulls
  • 2005: Bridgend Blue Bulls
  • 2006: Bridgend Blue Bulls
  • 2007: Bridgend Blue Bulls
  • 2008: Valley Cougars
  • 2009: Blackwood Bulldogs
  • 2010: Valley Cougars
  • 2011: Bridgend Blue Bulls
South Wales Premiership era
  • 2012: Bonymaen Broncos
  • 2013: Torfaen Tigers
  • 2014: Bridgend Blue Bulls
  • 2015: Bridgend Blue Bulls
  • 2016: Bridgend Blue Bulls
  • 2017: Valley Cougars
  • 2018: Valley Cougars
  • 2019: Rhondda Outlaws
  • 2020: Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2021: Bridgend Blue Bulls
  • 2022: Rhondda Outlaws
  • 2023: South Wales Jets

Shield/Plate winners

The South Wales Premiership has, on occasion, held a shield/plate competition for clubs who failed to reach the playoffs:

  • 2004: Cardiff Demons
  • 2005: Newport Titans (now Titans RLFC)
  • 2009: Newport Titans 32 - 24 Dinefwr Sharks

League standings

Current Teams 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Blackwood Bulldogs x x x 1st
Bridgend Blue Bulls 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd
Cardiff Demons x
CPC Bears x x x x x x x
Dinefwr Sharks 1 x x x x
Neath Port Talbot Steelers 2 x
Newport Titans x
Rumney Rhinos x x x x x x x
Swansea Valley Miners 3 x x x x
Torfaen Tigers 3rd x
Valley Cougars 4 1st
West Wales Wild Boars x x x x x x x
  • 1 competed as West Wales Sharks between 2006 and 2008
  • 2 competed as Aberavon Fighting Irish between 2003 and 2006
  • 3 competed as Swansea Bulls in 2003
  • 4 competed as Cynon Valley Cougars in 2003

Key

DNF Did not complete the season
x Did not participate
Divisional winner
Qualified for divisional play-off
Finished bottom

Junior league

The South Wales Premiership also operates at under-17, under-15, and under-13 age groups.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wales Celebrates 20 Years of League Action".
  2. ^ "20th anniversary fixtures revealed for South Wales men's league – Wales Rugby League (WRL)". 3 April 2023.
  3. ^ https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/articles/c3ggq0zgn1qo.amp