The Welsh Premier Division (also called the Principality Premiership for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby union league in Wales. It was created in 1990/91.

For the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons it was renamed the Welsh-Scottish League and Edinburgh and Glasgow competed alongside the Welsh teams.

It lost its top-level status in 2003 once the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) implemented its controversial "Regional Rugby" plan, by which the country would be represented in top-level competitions (i.e., the Celtic League and Heineken Cup) by five (now four) regionally-based sides. The clubs in the Premier Division became largely developmental sides for the regional teams.

Over succeeding years the league structure was to be changed in order to strengthen the structure of the semi-pro sides feeding the regions. Under the WRU's plan, playing records and facilities will be the main criteria in determining which clubs would stay in the Premiership.

For the 2005-2006 season the Welsh Premier Division consists of 16 clubs. Division One Champions Maesteg and runners-up Glamorgan Wanderers were promoted from Division 1 to join 14 clubs who played Premiership rugby the previous season. The clubs relegated down to Division 1 are Caerphilly, Llanharan and Newbridge. Thus, the division was reduced from 17 to 16 clubs.

2004/2005 Season

• Aberavon RFC
• Bedwas RFC
• Bridgend Ravens RFC
• Caerphilly RFC
• Carmarthen RFC
• Cardiff RFC
• Cross Keys RFC
• Ebbw Vale RFC
• Llandovery RFC
• Llanelli RFC
• Llanharan RFC
• Neath RFC
• Newbridge RFC
• Newport RFC
• Pontypool RFC
• Pontypridd RFC
• Swansea Sharks RFC

Past winners

1990/1 Neath

1991/2 Swansea

1992/3 Llanelli

1993/4 Swansea

1994/5 Cardiff

1995/6 Neath

1996/7 Pontypridd

1997/8 Swansea

1998/9 Llanelli

1999/2000 Cardiff

2000/1 Swansea

2001/2 Llanelli

2002/3 Bridgend

2003/4 Newport

2004/5 Neath

2005/6 Neath

Wins by club

• Swansea (4 times)

• Neath (4 times)

• Llanelli (3 times)

• Cardiff (twice)

• Pontypridd (once)

• Bridgend (once)

• Newport (once)

See also

• WRU Challenge Cup
• Celtic League
• List of Welsh rugby union teams

External links

• Welsh Rugby Union Home Page
• Restructuring of Welsh premiership
• New leagues for the North of Wales

Rugby union competitions | Rugby union in Wales | Organisations based in Wales