Quality coaches set to drive Principality Premiership standards
WRU Head of Rugby Performance Geraint John has welcomed the quality of coaches in the Principality Premiership this season. Namibia head coach and former Scarlets supremo Phil Davies has returned to home club Llanelli, adding to the number of coaches with regional and international experience at Principality Premiership clubs. Justin Burnell, former Wales U19 Grand Slam winning coach has returned to former club Pontypridd, Nigel Davies will add to the experience and know-how of Dale McIntosh and Lee Jarvis at Merthyr in his new role as CEO, while former Wales and Scarlets coach Mark Jones will be looking to build on last season’s WRU National Cup win with RGC 1404. Other former international players now coaching at this level include Gareth Llewellyn who led Neath to the Tier Two fi nal last season and Morgan Stoddart, Cross Keys assistant coach.
In addition to coaches who have vast Principality Premiership experience such as Steve Law who has moved to Cardiff after 16 years at the helm of Bedwas and Jason Hyatt who led Aberavon to their fi rst Principality Premiership fi nal last season, John believes this personnel will help raise standards in the Principality Premiership and add an extra edge to the competition. Sustainability key to Principality Premiership format changes Following an extensive consultation process with the Principality Premiership clubs, changes have been made to the Premiership structure for the next two seasons in order to meet the changing needs of the clubs and to help support them from a rugby, fi nancial and supporters’ experience perspective and to fi t into the national and regional pathway programme.
the season.
In the fi rst half of the season, the 16-team semi-professional league will be split geographically into two east and west eight- team leagues, with the clubs playing each other home and away. The clubs will be split into east and west Wales leagues with RGC 1404 joining the west Wales league. This will guarantee more meaningful local derbies up to the New Year before all teams come together for the second half of the season. There will be no play-offs, with the table- topping club at the end of the season crowned Principality Premiership champion in a straight-forward league system. Each club will then play the other 15 teams either home or away. At the split, points will be allocated to clubs based on league positions so the winners of the east and west leagues will go into the second half of the season with eight points, the clubs in second place will carry seven points into the 16-team league down to the eighth placed clubs who will carry one point, this will ensure all clubs remain in the race to be crowned Premier Division Winners. Every club will have a guaranteed 29 league matches during
Principality
Premiership clubs will continue to work with the Regions to select Regional Premiership Select XVs for the British & Irish Cup, while the Foster’s Challenge Cup will not take place.
Broadcast partners S4C and BBC will continue their live and highlights coverage of the Principality Premiership, S4C committing to 15 live Principality Premiership and WRU National Cup, Plate and Bowl matches over 13 weekends during the 2017/18 season, including three on National Cup Finals Day. Visit wru.wales for more information.
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Gear up for La Vuelta a Revolución de Cuba
Revolución de Cuba is gearing up for their charity bike tour, La Vuelta, and they need you! Starting on the 8th September 2017, Revolucion’s
own
Dominic Doherty, area manager for the South, will be joined by team members Rob Marshall and Jon Quinn to cycle 890 miles in just eight days. The ride will raise money for Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice in Penarth, Wales – chosen by Dominic’s wife after fi rst-hand experience working
alongside
their staff and patients. Beginning in Cardiff, the team will be cycling 125 miles a day and stopping at each Revolución de Cuba bar they pass by to host a ‘pit-stop fi esta’ to help raise funds towards their £11,000 target. Kicking off La Vuelta from Cardiff, the riders will be joined by a number of supporters, including Revolution Bar Group’s CEO Mark McQuater and you can help by cycling with the riders too. Sign up here (https://www.justgiving. com/fundraising/
lavuelta2017) with a personal donation of £100 and then grab your wheels - all you need is a road bike, a decent level of fi tness and, of course, the Cuban carnival spirit. Don’t worry if cycling isn’t for you, party with Revolución de Cuba Cardiff on 8th September to show your support at the fi esta of the Summer! In the morning, the cantina will be handing out a selection of delicious Cuban sandwiches in return for a donation. To celebrate the fi nal leg, on 15th September, the bar will be bringing the Latin fever late into the night with free cocktails, courtesy of Zacapa rum, alongside live entertainment from Revolución’s sensational Samba band – all they ask is for a donation on entry. With 100% of the money going to a great cause, there’s no reason not to head down for a slice of South America. More information visit
http://tyhafan.org.
GIVE YOUR HOME A FACELIFT
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