The 2017–18 Principality Premiership was the second 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. This season will be "ring-fenced" and relegation will return at the end of the 2018–19 season. The competition was won by Merthyr for the second consecutive year; this season also marked a "double" for Merthyr as they also won the 2017–18 WRU National Cup.
Structure The Principality Premiership's structure has altered from the previous season. The teams will be split into two conferences (East and West) for the first half of the season. Each team will play each other team in their conference home and away. After 14 rounds, The league is amalgamated and all points reset to zero. However, clubs are awarded points based on their finishing position in their respective conference e.g. the 1st place team in a conference will receive 8 points, 2nd place – 7 points etc. right down to 8th place – 1 point. Each team will then play the other once, either home or away, for a grand total of 29 games. Unlike previous seasons, the winner will be determined by league position and not a play off system. Therefore, the league leader will be declared champions. This is the second season in which the "ring-fenced" system will be implemented, meaning no team is in danger of relegation until the 2018–19 season. However, ring-fencing will be under review at the end of this season.
Teams The same 16 teams that competed the previous season competed again this season. Merthyr were the reigning champions having beaten Aberavon 22–18 in last year's final.
Club Stadium Capacity Area Aberavon Talbot Athletic Ground3,000 Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot Bargoed Bargoed Park1,500 Bargoed, Caerphilly Bedwas Bridge Field2,000 Bedwas, Caerphilly Bridgend Brewery Field8,000 Bridgend Cardiff Cardiff Arms Park12,125 Cardiff Carmarthen Quins Carmarthen Park3,000 Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire Cross Keys Pandy Park3,000 Crosskeys, Caerphilly Ebbw Vale Eugene Cross Park8,000 Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent Llandovery Church Bank Playing Fields3,000 Llandovery, Carmarthenshire Llanelli Parc y Scarlets14,870 Llanelli, Carmarthenshire Merthyr The Wern4,500 Merthyr Tydfil Neath The Gnoll6,000 Neath, Neath Port Talbot Newport Rodney Parade11,676 Newport Pontypridd Sardis Road7,861 Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf RGC 1404 Eirias Stadium6,000 Colwyn Bay, Conwy Swansea St Helen's4,500 Swansea
Standings (East)
Standings (West)
Phase Two After 14 rounds, the two conferences merge and points are reset to zero. However, points are awarded to teams prior to this phase according to league position (1st – 8 points, 2nd – 7 points, 3rd – 6 points etc.). Each team now plays each other team once, either home or away, for a grand total of 29 games over the entire season. There is no play-off system this season and the league leader will be crowned 2017–18 Principality Premiership Champions.
Standings (Phase Two)
External links