Five teams will contest the Premier Division with title favourites Cardiff Quins sitting out the first weekend of action as Pontyclun host Neath Athletic while Cardiff Met (formerly UWIC) travel to Cross Keys.
Pencoed, Whitland, Caernarfon, Kidwelly and Seven Sisters will contest for honours in Division 1 while Blackwood, Sea View, Gorseinon, Croesyceiliog, Blaenau and Gwernyfed will be battling it out in Division 2.
Barry, Lampeter, Penallta, Welshpool, Maesteg Celtic and Tylorstown will be battling it out in Division 3 in what is expected to be three evenly matched divisions.
In the past there have been a series of one-sided affairs in the Women’s Leagues but Women’s Development Lead Officer Ben Rose is hoping that is a thing of the past.
“This season sees quite a change in structure in that a new league management group which involves representatives from every club have taken ownership of the season and created this new set-up.
“The season has been condensed where the first block of games will be played between now and November 4. It’s like a mini-league if you like as the second part of the season will be re-drawn after the regional campaign is played.
“The regional programme will now be played before Christmas which means the standard for the players increases as the season progresses towards the international campaign. Therefore the better players should have a greater chance of making progress. And hopefully the games will be more competitive right across the board.”
Pontyclun hope to push Quins hard for the Premier title and know they will have to be at their best to begin their campaign with a win against Neath Athletic.
“We may not be a team of stars but we have a great team unity on and off the pitch,” said scrum half Laura Prosser. “We’ve been boosted this year with Wales No 8 Vici Owens joining us while ex-Wales second row Gemma Hallett is making a welcome return to rugby.
“Neath have got some pretty good players and always provide stiff opposition but hopefully we can get the season off to a cracking start.”
Neath, who finished mid table last season, are looking to expand their horizons this season with a more free flowing game-plan.
“Pontyclun are very much a forward orientated team so it’ll be a tough challenge in the scrums with the new rules in place,” explained front row Lowri Harries.
“But we’re pretty confident going into the season so we’ll see what happens. We’re looking to play a quick style of rugby and we’ll try to do this against Pontyclun and for the rest of the season. We concentrated on the Cup last year and we came second losing in the final but we’re concentrating more on the club side of things this year.”
Women’s League Fixtures
Sunday 2 September
Premier Division
Pontyclun v Neath Athletic
Cross Keys v Cardiff Met
Division 1
Pencoed v Whitland
Caernarfon v Kidwelly
Division 2
Blackwood v Sea View
Gorseinon v Croesyceiliog
Blaenau v Gwernyfed
Division 3
Barry v Lampeter
Penallta v Welshpool
Maesteg Celtci v Tylorstown
