Welsh Rugby chief wants Anglo-Welsh cup overhaul
clubs such as Neath, Pontypridd and Cardiff could come fact-to-face with top English sides
Monday, 25, Aug 2008 10:18
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is in talks with its English counterpart over new Anglo-Welsh cup competitions.
The WRU want to replace the EDF Energy Cup from the start of the 2009/2010 season with two new competitions, and have now officially conformed that talks are ongoing.
"I've been in talks with the RFU aimed at growing the game at Premiership level as well as regional," said WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis.
"There are clear implications for the Premiership and I will be holding discussions with those clubs in a couple of of weeks' time."
Lewis hopes to replace the EDF Cup with a competition that will involve the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs, the four Welsh regions and four teams from the second tier of English rugby – National League One – which the RFU wants to reduce to a 12-team competition with a new “Championship” label along the same lines as football.
The are also plans to run a second cup alongside it, which would see the eight other English “Championship” sides face-off with six teams from the Welsh Premiership.
"There is a shared desire among the RFU and WRU to preserve Anglo-Welsh encounters to enhance existing competitions.
"But Anglo-Welsh matches must complement Celtic rugby and we are also determined to develop the Magners League."