The Blue and Blacks went 16 games without defeat in the run in to the end of last season’s campaign as they ended the four year dominance of Neath in the Premiership.
New WRU National Academy Manager Phil Davies headed the coaching team at the Arms Park in the second half of last season, but the coaching reins in the 2009/10 campaign will be in the hands of ex-Wales outside half Lee Jarvis and Howard Stone.
Joining them for the first time will be former Cardiff Blues back row man, Mark Lewis, who retired at the end of last season, while Keith Morgan will act as team administrator.
Cardiff have bolstered their squad ahead of the new season by recruiting two players from the Dragons. Former Wales flanker Jamie Ringer returns to the Arms Park a decade after the last of his 85 games for the club, while former Wales Under 20 star Jimmy Norris is joining him. Another newcomer is former Llanelli back row star, Dan Godfrey.
“We have maintained a healthy balance between youth and experience with the addition of several players in their late teens and early twenties. These include James Loxton from the Blues Academy, another former academy product in Tom Slater, and several other Wales under-20 caps such as Ashley Sweet and Jimmy Norris,” said Morgan.
“There promises to be a feast of attractive Saturday afternoon Premiership rugby at the Arms Park in the early weeks of the new season with Swansea being followed by Neath in mid-September. Then we entertain Llandovery, newly-promoted Carmarthen Quins and local rivals Bedwas and Pontypridd.”
Runners-up Newport will face Premiership new boys Carmarthen Quins, who won the SWALEC League Division One West title last season.
“Going to Newport for our debut match in the Premiership will be a tough start for us but every game is going to be a real test,” said Quins team manager Stefan Thomas.
“However, it is certainly an exciting time for the our club and winning promotion was something we had been working towards for a number of seasons. Now we are there we are confident we can consolidate our position in the division.
“We have made 12 new signings and brought in some seasoned campaigners to provide us with a healthy mix alongside our youthful squad.
“They include current Tongan international scrum half Sililo Martens, former Newport and Ebbw Vale scrum half Llyr Lane, Wales Under 20 tighthead prop Simon Gardiner, Aberavon’s prolific try scoring wing Richard Carter and former Scarlets hooker Aled Gravelle.”
Pat Horgan’s SWALEC Cup winners Neath team travel to Bedwas for their first outing, while Pontypool will host Aberavon. Pontypool have signed utility back Steve Taylor from Newport and given outside half Mike Hook, elder brother of James Hook, a role on the coaching staff. Hook played for the club last season, but injured his neck in a testimonial match and has decided to take up coaching.
Llanelli, with Scarlets and Ireland star Simon Easterby now part of their coaching team, will host Cross Keys, while Ebbw Vale travel to Glamorgan Wanderers. Former Scarlets and Bridgend outside half Gareth Bowen has switched to the Eugene Cross club, while Wales Under 20 pivot Dai Langdon has moved to Cross Keys.
The 26 rounds of the Principality Premiership league will end on 10 April, which will then be followed for the first time by a play-off Championship involving the top eight clubs. The play-off championship final will be held on Sunday 23 May and the final play-off positions will determine the Welsh participants in the British and Irish Cup the following season.
WRU Head of Rugby, Performance and Development Joe Lydon said, “The introduction of the play-offs will create an added edge which will ensure fierce competition from the beginning to the end of the season and give the supporters the mouth-watering prospect of seeing some tremendous rugby action.
“We have promised to drive the Principality Premiership Division forward and the league and cup structure this coming season will benefit the development of the game at the semi professional level in Wales.”
Graeme Yorston, Chief Operating Officer at Principality Building Society, said: “The past four seasons have been filled with excitement, close-calls, great tries and wonderful team performances. We’ve seen Cardiff steal the trophy from Neath for the first time since our sponsorship began.
“The next year promises new highs of quality, stature and excitement. The introduction of the play-offs will certainly raise the level of competition on the pitch and there will no doubt be many challengers for the title this season. As Wales’ largest building society we are delighted to support such a breeding ground for Welsh talent. I wish all the teams every success as we approach the season start.”
Chris Clarke, chairman of the Premier Division said, “Everyone involved in the Premier Division is looking forward to an exciting season of rugby. We are constantly looking to raise standards on and off the pitch and the introduction of the British and Irish Cup and the Play-Off Championship at the end of the season will bring an added edge to the Principality Premiership right from the word go.”
| 29 August 2009 | ||
| Llanelli | v | Cross Keys |
| Bedwas | v | Neath |
| Pontypridd | v | Llandovery |
| Newport | v | Carmarthen |
| Cardiff | v | Swansea |
| Pontypool | v | Aberavon |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Ebbw Vale |
| 05 September 2009 | ||
| Bedwas | v | Llanelli |
| Llandovery | v | Neath |
| Carmarthen | v | Pontypridd |
| Swansea | v | Newport |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Cardiff |
| Aberavon | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Cross Keys | v | Pontypool |
| 12 September 2009 | ||
| Llanelli | v | Llandovery |
| Neath | v | Carmarthen |
| Pontypool | v | Pontypridd |
| Newport | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Cardiff |
| Cross Keys | v | Aberavon |
| Bedwas | v | Swansea |
| 18 September 2009 | ||
| Swansea | v | Llanelli |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Pontypridd |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Newport |
| Cardiff | v | Cross Keys |
| Aberavon | v | Bedwas |
| 19 September 2009 | ||
| Llandovery | v | Carmarthen |
| Pontypool | v | Neath |
| 22 September 2009 | ||
| Llanelli | v | Aberavon |
| Cardiff | v | Neath |
| Newport | v | Pontypridd |
| 26 September 2009 | ||
| Llanelli | v | Pontypool |
| Neath | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Pontypridd | v | Cross Keys |
| Newport | v | Bedwas |
| Cardiff | v | Llandovery |
| Swansea | v | Aberavon |
| Carmarthen | v | Glam Wdrs |
| 03 October 2009 | ||
| Ebbw Vale | v | Llanelli |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Neath |
| Bedwas | v | Pontypridd |
| Cross Keys | v | Newport |
| Pontypool | v | Cardiff |
| Carmarthen | v | Aberavon |
| Llandovery | v | Swansea |
| 10 October 2009 | ||
| Llanelli | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Neath | v | Cross Keys |
| Pontypridd | v | Swansea |
| Newport | v | Llandovery |
| Cardiff | v | Carmarthen |
| Aberavon | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Bedwas | v | Pontypool |
| 17 October 2009 | ||
| Carmarthen | v | Llanelli |
| Swansea | v | Neath |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Pontypridd |
| Newport | v | Pontypool |
| Cardiff | v | Bedwas |
| Llandovery | v | Aberavon |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Cross Keys |
| 24 October 2009 | ||
| Aberavon | v | Llanelli |
| Neath | v | Cardiff |
| Pontypridd | v | Newport |
| Cross Keys | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Bedwas | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Pontypool | v | Llandovery |
| Carmarthen | v | Swansea |
| 31 October 2009 | ||
| Aberavon | v | Newport |
| Cardiff | v | Pontypridd |
| Llanelli | v | Neath |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Swansea |
| Pontypool | v | Carmarthen |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Llandovery |
| Cross Keys | v | Bedwas |
| 07 November 2009 | ||
| Neath | v | Aberavon |
| Pontypridd | v | Llanelli |
| Newport | v | Cardiff |
| Bedwas | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Llandovery | v | Cross Keys |
| Carmarthen | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Swansea | v | Pontypool |
| 14 November 2009 | ||
| Cardiff | v | Aberavon |
| Newport | v | Llanelli |
| Pontypridd | v | Neath |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Pontypool |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Swansea |
| Cross Keys | v | Carmarthen |
| Bedwas | v | Llandovery |
| 05 December 2009 | ||
| Aberavon | v | Pontypridd |
| Neath | v | Newport |
| Llanelli | v | Cardiff |
| Llandovery | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Carmarthen | v | Bedwas |
| Swansea | v | Cross Keys |
| Pontypool | v | Ebbw Vale |
| 12 December 2009 | ||
| Newport | v | Aberavon |
| Pontypridd | v | Cardiff |
| Neath | v | Llanelli |
| 19 December 2009 | ||
| Llanelli | v | Bedwas |
| Neath | v | Llandovery |
| Pontypridd | v | Carmarthen |
| Newport | v | Swansea |
| Cardiff | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Aberavon |
| Pontypool | v | Cross Keys |
| 26 December 2009 | ||
| Llandovery | v | Llanelli |
| Carmarthen | v | Neath |
| Pontypridd | v | Pontypool |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Newport |
| Cardiff | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Aberavon | v | Cross Keys |
| Swansea | v | Bedwas |
| 02 January 2010 | ||
| Llanelli | v | Swansea |
| Neath | v | Pontypool |
| Pontypridd | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Newport | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Cross Keys | v | Cardiff |
| Bedwas | v | Aberavon |
| Carmarthen | v | Llandovery |
| 09 January 2010 | ||
| Cross Keys | v | Llanelli |
| Neath | v | Bedwas |
| Llandovery | v | Pontypridd |
| Carmarthen | v | Newport |
| Swansea | v | Cardiff |
| Aberavon | v | Pontypool |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Glam Wdrs |
| 23 January 2010 | ||
| Pontypool | v | Llanelli |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Neath |
| Cross Keys | v | Pontypridd |
| Bedwas | v | Newport |
| Llandovery | v | Cardiff |
| Aberavon | v | Swansea |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Carmarthen |
| 30 January 2010 | ||
| Aberavon | v | Neath |
| Llanelli | v | Pontypridd |
| Cardiff | v | Newport |
| 06 February 2010 | ||
| Llanelli | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Neath | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Pontypridd | v | Bedwas |
| Newport | v | Cross Keys |
| Cardiff | v | Pontypool |
| Aberavon | v | Carmarthen |
| Swansea | v | Llandovery |
| 13 February 2010 | ||
| Glam Wdrs | v | Cross Keys |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Bedwas |
| Llandovery | v | Pontypool |
| Swansea | v | Carmarthen |
| 27 February 2010 | ||
| Swansea | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Carmarthen | v | Pontypool |
| Llandovery | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Bedwas | v | Cross Keys |
| 06 March 2010 | ||
| Glam Wdrs | v | Bedwas |
| Cross Keys | v | Llandovery |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Carmarthen |
| Pontypool | v | Swansea |
| 13 March 2010 | ||
| Glam Wdrs | v | Llanelli |
| Cross Keys | v | Neath |
| Swansea | v | Pontypridd |
| Llandovery | v | Newport |
| Carmarthen | v | Cardiff |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Aberavon |
| Pontypool | v | Bedwas |
| 19 March 2010 | ||
| Pontypool | v | Newport |
| 20 March 2010 | ||
| Llanelli | v | Carmarthen |
| Neath | v | Swansea |
| Pontypridd | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Bedwas | v | Cardiff |
| Aberavon | v | Llandovery |
| Cross Keys | v | Ebbw Vale |
| 03 April 2010 | ||
| Aberavon | v | Cardiff |
| Llanelli | v | Newport |
| Neath | v | Pontypridd |
| Pontypool | v | Glam Wdrs |
| Swansea | v | Ebbw Vale |
| Carmarthen | v | Cross Keys |
| Llandovery | v | Bedwas |
| 10 April 2010 | ||
| Pontypridd | v | Aberavon |
| Newport | v | Neath |
| Cardiff | v | Llanelli |
| Glam Wdrs | v | Llandovery |
| Bedwas | v | Carmarthen |
| Cross Keys | v | Swansea |
| Ebbw Vale | v | Pontypool |
