2019–20 Indigo Group Premiership Explained

2019–20 Indigo Group Premiership
Date:6 September 2019 – 7 March 2020 (cancelled)
Champions:NONE
Relegated:NONE
Matches:100 (out of a scheduled 132)
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2021–22

The 2019–20 Indigo Group Premiership was the first season of the new format of the Welsh Premiership, the top tier of club rugby in Wales run by the Welsh Rugby Union. It was contested by twelve Welsh clubs following a reduction from sixteen teams at the end of the 2018–19 season.

The season was cancelled on 20 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Structure

The structure was a traditional league. Each team would play each other team on a home and away basis for a total of 22 games. League points were awarded as such – 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw and 0 for a loss. Teams could also earn an additional bonus point by scoring four or more tries in a match and/or losing by less than seven points. One team would be relegated to the Welsh Championship at the end of the season, provided that the Welsh Championship winners met the criteria for an A Licence. The top 6 teams from the previous 2018–19 season would play against teams from the new Scottish Super 6 league in a cross-border competition in April and May 2020.[2]

Teams

The top 12 teams that competed in the previous season took part again this season. Merthyr were the reigning champions and were aiming to win the league for the fourth year in succession.

ClubStadiumCapacityArea
AberavonTalbot Athletic Ground3,000Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot
BridgendBrewery Field8,000Bridgend
CardiffCardiff Arms Park12,125Cardiff
Carmarthen QuinsCarmarthen Park3,000Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire
Ebbw ValeEugene Cross Park8,000Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent
LlandoveryChurch Bank Playing Fields3,000Llandovery, Carmarthenshire
LlanelliParc y Scarlets14,870Llanelli, Carmarthenshire
MerthyrThe Wern4,500Merthyr Tydfil
NewportRodney Parade11,676Newport
PontypriddSardis Road7,861Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf
RGC 1404Eirias Stadium6,000Colwyn Bay, Conwy
SwanseaSt Helen's4,500Swansea

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coronavirus: Welsh Rugby Union cancels all league and cup games . BBC Sport . 21 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Top Welsh Premiership sides to face Scottish Super 6 clubs . BBC Sport . 26 June 2019.