• Source: Welsh Championship

The WRU National Championship (or Admiral Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the second tier of professional rugby union in Wales. The league was reformed by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 2012.
The current National Championship champions are Pontypool RFC, who won consecutive titles in 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Pontypool RFC went through the 2022/23 Season unbeaten as Champions, with Neath RFC in second place also being promoted.




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 second tier, which lies below the first 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 Pro14.




= 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.




2024-25 season


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




2023-24 season






2022-23 season






2021-22 season






2020–21 season


Cancelled due to COVID-19




2019–20 season






2018–19 season



Correct as of 26 February 2019




2017–18 season



"r" denotes relegation to the WRU Division One East or WRU Division One West




2016–17 season






2015–16 season






2014–15 season






Winners






References






External links


Webpage

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Britania Raya
• Liga Utama Inggris
• Gareth Bale
• Manchester City F.C.
• Cardiff City F.C.
• Liverpool F.C.
• Sepak bola dalam 2018
• PlayStation 3
• London
• Liga Utama Inggris 2016–2017
• Welsh Open (snooker)
• Welsh Championship
• List of Welsh rugby union clubs
• Welsh Chess Championship
• London Welsh RFC
• Wales national rugby union team
• Welsh Championships
• Wales national football team
• Rugby union in Wales
• Welsh Premier Division