2019–20 Indigo Group Premiership
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2018) |
| 2019–20 Indigo Group Premiership | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  Wales |
| Date | 6 September 2019 – 7 March 2020 (cancelled) |
| Champions | NONE |
| Relegated | NONE |
| Matches played | 100 (out of a scheduled 132) |
The 2019–20 Indigo Group Premiership was the first season of the new format of the Welsh Premiership, the top tier of club rugby in Wales run by the Welsh Rugby Union. It was contested by twelve Welsh clubs following a reduction from sixteen teams at the end of the 2018–19 season.
The season was cancelled on 20 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
Structure
[edit]The structure was a traditional league. Each team would play each other team on a home and away basis for a total of 22 games. League points were awarded as such – 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw and 0 for a loss. Teams could also earn an additional bonus point by scoring four or more tries in a match and/or losing by less than seven points. One team would be relegated to the Welsh Championship at the end of the season, provided that the Welsh Championship winners met the criteria for an A Licence. The top 6 teams from the previous 2018–19 season would play against teams from the new Scottish Super 6 league in a cross-border competition in April and May 2020.[2]
Teams
[edit]The top 12 teams that competed in the previous season took part again this season. Merthyr were the reigning champions and were aiming to win the league for the fourth year in succession.
Orange = Dragons
Blue = Cardiff Blues
Black = Ospreys
Red = Scarlets
- RGC acts as a de facto club representing North Wales
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberavon | Talbot Athletic Ground | 3,000 | Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot |
| Bridgend | Brewery Field | 8,000 | Bridgend |
| Cardiff | Cardiff Arms Park | 12,125 | Cardiff |
| Carmarthen Quins | Carmarthen Park | 3,000 | Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire |
| Ebbw Vale | Eugene Cross Park | 8,000 | Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent |
| Llandovery | Church Bank Playing Fields | 3,000 | Llandovery, Carmarthenshire |
| Llanelli | Parc y Scarlets | 14,870 | Llanelli, Carmarthenshire |
| Merthyr | The Wern | 4,500 | Merthyr Tydfil |
| Newport | Rodney Parade | 11,676 | Newport |
| Pontypridd | Sardis Road | 7,861 | Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| RGC 1404 | Eirias Stadium | 6,000 | Colwyn Bay, Conwy |
| Swansea | St Helen's | 4,500 | Swansea |
Standings
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 391 | 243 | +148 | 50 | 29 | 7 | 2 | 61 |
| 2 | Carmarthen Quins | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 372 | 278 | +94 | 47 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 54 |
| 3 | Aberavon | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 371 | 272 | +99 | 45 | 32 | 4 | 5 | 53 |
| 4 | Llandovery | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 344 | 285 | +59 | 44 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 48 |
| 5 | Pontypridd | 18 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 391 | 373 | +18 | 41 | 46 | 2 | 5 | 47 |
| 6 | Merthyr | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 362 | 374 | −12 | 45 | 40 | 5 | 7 | 44 |
| 7 | RGC 1404 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 409 | 381 | +28 | 54 | 50 | 5 | 4 | 43 |
| 8 | Newport | 15 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 294 | 273 | +21 | 38 | 32 | 4 | 5 | 37 |
| 9 | Swansea | 17 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 246 | 292 | −46 | 29 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 35 |
| 10 | Llanelli | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 293 | 412 | −119 | 38 | 52 | 2 | 1 | 27 |
| 11 | Ebbw Vale | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 280 | 348 | −68 | 28 | 41 | 1 | 6 | 27 |
| 12 | Bridgend | 18 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 271 | 493 | −222 | 29 | 66 | 1 | 6 | 19 |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Number of tries scored
- Ratio between points for:points against
References
[edit]- ^ "Coronavirus: Welsh Rugby Union cancels all league and cup games". BBC Sport. 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Top Welsh Premiership sides to face Scottish Super 6 clubs". BBC Sport. 26 June 2019.