The WRU National Championship (or Admiral Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the third tier of professional rugby union in Wales. The league was reformed by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 2012.

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 third tier, which lies below the second 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 United Rugby Championship.

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 Carmarthen 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.

2025–26 season

Clubs and locations

Colour markers to represent the region each club belongs to: Blue = Cardiff Rugby || Orange = Dragons || Black = Ospreys || Red = Scarlets

Championship East
ClubStadiumCapacityAreaPrevious season
Aberdare RFCYnys Stadium500Aberdare7th Championship East
Abertillery RFCAbertillery Park15,250Abertillery1st League 1 East (Promoted)
Bedwas RFCThe Bridge Field2,000Bedwas2nd Championship East
Bridgend Athletic RFCNewbridge FieldsBridgend1st League 1 West Central (Promoted)
Mountain Ash RFCParc Duffryn PennarMountain Ash9th Championship East
Penallta RFCYstrad Fawr200Ystrad Mynach5th Championship East
Rumney RFCRiverside Park250Rumney3rd Championship East
St. Joseph's RFCMaes Y Coed RoadCardiff1st League 1 East Central (Promoted)
St Peters RFCHarlequins Playing FieldsCardiff8th Championship East
Talywain RFCEmlyn ParkPontypool6th Championship East
Treorchy RFCThe OvalTreorchy10th Championship East
The WanderersMemorial Ground3,000Cardiff4th Championship East
Ynysddu RFCThe Welfare GroundYnysddu11th Championship East
Championship West
ClubStadiumCapacityAreaPrevious season
Aberystwyth RFCPlascrugAberystwyth1st League 1 West (Promoted)
Ammanford RFCManor RoadAmmanford5th Championship West
Bonymaen RFCParc MawrBonymaen12th Admiral Premiership (Relegated)
Crymych RFCParc Lloyd ThomasCrymych9th Championship West
Dunvant RFCBroadacreDunvant4th Championship West
Glynneath RFCAbernant ParkGlynneath6th Championship West
Gorseinon RFCWelfare Ground1,200Gorseinon10th Championship West
Gowerton RFCAthletic Ground3,000Gowerton11th Championship West
Kenfig Hill RFCCroft Goch Playing FieldsKenfig Hill7th Championship West
Newcastle Emlyn RFCDôl WiberNewcastle Emlyn13th Admiral Premiership (Relegated)
Tata Steel RFCMargam Sports GroundPort Talbot2nd Championship West
Tondu RFCPandy ParkTondu3rd Championship West
Trebanos RFCThe ParkTrebanos8th Championship West

2024–25 season

Colour markers to represent the region each club belongs to: Blue = Cardiff Rugby || Orange = Dragons || Black = Ospreys || Red = Scarlets

Championship East
TEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFTFTATBLBPTS
Beddau RFC24230197933664314545200112
Bedwas RFC242103111038572516347222108
Rumney RFC24151868462658918313479
Glamorgan Wanderers RFC2414197715871841107815679
Penallta RFC2414197455711741067514577
Talywain RFC2412111586699-1137710010262
Aberdare RFC2412012589637-48828611362
St. Peter's RFC248016683815-1329611312650
Mountain Ash RFC248115547796-2497511710347
Treorchy RFC246018566803-2377411710741
Ynysddu RFC247017452941-489621369239
Brynmawr RFC247116369571-20242803538
Cambrian Welfare RFC246018451765-314581046636
Championship West
TEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFTFTATBLBPTS
Llanelli Wanderers RFC24220289040148911448161105
Tata Steel RFC2419147614952661106016296
Tondu RFC2418067534143391035412286
Dunvant RFC2414010744682621099217277
Ammanford RFC24140108295253041227314676
Glynneath RFC241509630520110866911475
Kenfig Hill RFC241221061752394816010466
Trebanos RFC2412111631644-1385839463
Crymych RFC247017564885-3218113012444
Gorseinon RFC248115499646-14758896343
Gowerton RFC246117561722-161711048741
Ystalyfera RFC246018532737-2057210310539
Maesteg Harlequins RFC2400243581175-81747174235

2023–24 season

Due to the creation of Super Rygbi Cymru, the Welsh Premiership underwent a reconstruction. The top five clubs from both Championships were promoted at the end of the 2023–24 season to join the three clubs not granted access to the Super Rygbi Cymru.

Championship East
TEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFTFTATBLBPTS
Bargoed RFC2220028983745241314919099
Cardiff Met RFC2216027874882991126413481
Cross Keys RFC221516655552103907312175
Ystrad Rhondda2215076595471121007214375
Newbridge RFC221408675507168976512371
Beddau RFC221201055851048721699663
Bedwas RFC2212010550612-6270829360
Rumney RFC229013569612-4373819853
The Wanderers228113491575-8461855645
St Peter's RFC224018504700-19673101101137
Penallta RFC225017523745-222701077328
Treorchy RFC221021305952-64742143349
Championship West
TEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFTFTATBLBPTS
Narberth RFC22210195430465013941171102
Brecon RFC2220027914013901145117198
Llangennech RFC2217058624224401315719289
Bonymaen RFC221408573435138865514575
Newcastle Emlyn RFC2211011521567-4670757354
Dunvant RFC2210012504583-7969818452
Trebanos RFC2211011450595-14549835251
Crymych RFC229013539597-5870829651
Ammanford RFC227015483680-19764955538
Ystalyfera RFC226115432745-313631047336
Maesteg Harlequins225116408767-359451074329
Tata Steel RFC220022363784-42147116358

2022–23 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFTFTATBLBPTS
1Pontypool RFC (C)262600128629299419334250129
2Neath RFC26230397334263114741243119
3Bargoed RFC26220488339948413353191108
4Ystrad Rhondda2517177394283111095614488
5Narberth RFC26150117345182161027213574
6Cardiff Met RFC2614012770765510811213170
7Bedwas RFC261301367365716949614365
8Cross Keys RFC2611015700723-2310110014462
9Beddau RFC2511014514571-5774809457
10Maesteg Harlequins269116447793-346501165144
11The Wanderers268018526870-3447612411241
12Trebanos RFC266020404751-347551154424
13Ystalyfera RFC265021390899-509581294121
14Tata Steel RFC2600262661297-10313220410-3

2021–22 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFTFTATBLBPTS
1Bargoed RFC (C)13120136815821051198056
2Neath RFC13110238224613652277253
3Pontypool RFC1190244110034161119146
4Bedwas RFC129032902345638294141
5Narberth RFC127053072149336274335
6Cardiff Met RFC137063552975848424234
7Cross Keys RFC11506196224-2825282426
8Maesteg Harlequins12507226265-3926362325
9Ystrad Rhondda RFC10406136219-8320292119
10The Wanderers12408212384-17229551118
11Trebanos RFC10307150253-10318350113
12Tata Steel RFC121011199433-2342561228
13Ystalyfera RFC8107126199-731425127
14Beddau RFC910890252-1621231105

2020–21 season

Cancelled due to COVID-19

2019–20 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFTFTATBLBPTS
1Pontypool RFC1616007461366101121814078
2Bargoed RFC161411663148515961614173
3Bedwas RFC171304478236242652910365
4Cardiff Met RFC18131452839313575569063
5Neath RFC17809344413-6944555441
6Narberth RFC16817339335441474139
7Cross Keys RFC17809316395-7939523338
8The Wanderers16808233340-10724431235
9Maesteg Harlequins16808235370-13525442034
10Ystrad Rhondda RFC166010270350-8031413431
11Beddau RFC164012220506-28629752119
12Trebanos RFC162212175336-16121450618
13Tata Steel RFC162113232521-28929681415
14Ystalyfera RFC172015204504-30023650513

2018–19 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Pontypool RFC (C)15150052920332673
2Ystrad Rhondda RFC1814044493628765
3Narberth RFC17140338926012963
4Cardiff Met RFC19121647532814759
5Bedlinog RFC16619276350-7433
6Maesteg Harlequins RFC13706234289-5529
7Trebanos RFC155010288330-4229
8Newbridge RFC185112308436-12828
9Tata Steel RFC (R)144010349378-2926
10Beddau RFC (R)174013320422-10226
11Rhydyfelin RFC (R)154110235337-10224
12Newcastle Emlyn RFC (R)154011273430-15721

Correct as of 26 February 2019

2017–18 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Pontypool RFC (C)222200926239687107
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 (R)227015351535-18434
12Glynneath RFC (R)223019292622-33017

(R) - denotes relegation to the WRU Division One East or WRU Division One West

2016–17 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Pontypool RFC (C)22210180527952698
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 (R)227114405490-8541
12Dunvant RFC (R)222020434790-35616

2015–16 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Merthyr RFC (C)2624021192289903118
2Swansea RFC (P)262213859402457108
3Bargoed RFC (P)26191677940137897
4RGC 1404 RFC (P)26190792846046896
5Pontypool RFC26191679442836694
6Beddau RFC2610115537567-3052
7Cardiff Met RFC269017631828-19751
8Tata Steel RFC2611015622787-16550
9Narberth RFC268117564710-14648
10Newcastle Emlyn RFC2610016538668-13047
11Newbridge RFC269017501686-18547
12Glynneath RFC269017461767-30645
13Bridgend Athletic RFC (R)269116362648-28643
14Llanharan RFC (R)2610252771404-11277

2014–15 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Bargoed RFC (C)262501958362596124
2Swansea RFC262204909386523107
3Merthyr RFC26190767145221989
4RGC 1404 RFC261501184843641283
5Pontypool RFC261601063948315677
6Narberth RFC2615110542562-2070
7Cardiff Met RFC261401264853311566
8Bridgend Athletic RFC26140124964653165
9Tata Steel RFC2612014486651-16558
10Glynneath RFC269017532653-12143
11Newbridge RFC267118479777-29839
12Llanharan RFC266020475663-18833
13Tondu RFC264022461717-25630
14Blackwood RFC2630233681372-100420

2013–14 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Ebbw Vale (C)2625011009221788122
2Cardiff Met RFC26171871648722986
3RGC 1404 RFC26170974341932483
4Pontypool RFC26171864446318183
5Narberth RFC26162865646918780
6Bargoed RFC261501156243512774
7Tata Steel RFC2613013559561-265
8Bridgend Athletic RFC2613112478557-7960
9Tondu RFC2611015431637-20653
10Llanharan RFC2610016471676-20548
11Blackwood RFC266119505773-26839
12Newbridge RFC267118349610-26138
13Beddau RFC265219378734-35630
14Bonymaen RFC265120294753-45927

2012–13 season

POSTEAMPLWDLPFPADIFFPTS
1Ebbw Vale (C)2625011132280852123
2Bargoed RFC26201571540031598
3Cardiff Met RFC26171861946815184
4Tata Steel RFC26171873749624183
5Newbridge RFC26151105735512271
6Narberth RFC2614012608625-1769
7Llanharan RFC2612014539645-10665
8Blackwood RFC2612014562688-12661
9Bridgend Athletic RFC2612014548662-11460
10Beddau RFC26101155365231357
11Bonymaen RFC269017399593-19447
12Pontypool RFC267019411714-30336
13The Wanderers264220437807-37029
14Whitland RFC264121388752-36427

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
2019–20Pontypool RFC
2020–21COVID-19
2021–22Bargoed RFC
2022–23Pontypool RFC

Split into Championship West and East

SeasonWest WinnersEast Winners
2023–24Narberth RFCBargoed RFC
2024–25Llanelli Wanderers RFCBeddau RFC
2025–26
2026–27
2027–28

External links