Rugby in the Community is a range of opportunities that are delivered by the Welsh Rugby Union, to support rugby across Wales.
The National leagues and Cup competitions are the pinnacle of community rugby in Wales,
U18 rugby within Wales also has that same opportunity to play in leagues and enter into cup competitions
Each Region runs its own junior club competitions from Under 12’s to Under 16’s locate your regional tab to see what’s on in your location.
Rugby in the Community is a range of opportunities that are delivered by the Welsh Rugby Union, to support rugby across Wales.
The national league and cup competition is the pinnacle of community rugby in Wales, which sees the 300 rugby clubs across Wales playing in a national league system ranging from the Premiership down to the geographical division 6 leagues.
This provides thousands of players, coaches, referees and volunteers with regular rugby across the season.
This is further supported by a national cup competition that runs across the season, seeing all teams depending on their leagues playing for the National WRU Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield as part of the road to the finals.
The U18s league and National Cup competition is the pinnacle of under 18 community rugby in Wales, which sees the youth rugby section serviced.
The U18s league is run Regionally pre Christmas and Nationally post Christmas with a National Cup integrated between.
The WRU Cup, Plate and Bowl will then have finals played across the Regions
This provides thousands of players, coaches, referees and volunteers with regular rugby across the season.
Under 12 to Under 16 Rugby
The Cardiff Rugby Cup competitions provides a fun participation and competitive tournaments from U12s to U16s age grade teams.
The U12s to U14s age groups run across the duration of the season starting from September through to December with fixtures being played at their own clubs finishing with a finals weekend held at Cardiff Arms Park in May
The competition has three tiers of Cup, Plate and Bowl. Meaning the top 3 from each group progress to Cup, the second placed from each group to the plate and 3rd placed in each group to the bowl competition.
The U15s age groups run across the duration of the season starting from September through to December with fixtures being played at their own clubs finishing with finals weekend held at Cardiff Arms Park in May
The competition has two tiers of Cup and Plate. Meaning the top 2 from each group progress to Cup, the second placed from each group to the plate.
In 2023/24 over 4000 children, 750 team support volunteers participated in the competition with double that of over 8000 being physically involved in supporting their teams across the cup days and season either through family or club supporters.
Watch the video of last year’s finals day.
U18 Rugby
U18 rugby in the Cardiff Rugby region is split geographically north and south prior to Christmas with teams self selecting which leagues they wish to start in. Up until Christmas then they play in a 9 game league as well as a north and south cup being played for amongst all teams in the geographical area.
Post Christmas, the team standings from these leagues are then used to seed them into a national youth system which is then played across the whole region again with a 9 game league being played.
Senior Rugby
The majority of Cardiff rugby regional community clubs have their first XVs playing across the national district leagues from the WRU Premiership down to Division 5.
Second team rugby is vibrant and well across the region with both of our districts (B & C) hosting their own regular domestic 2nd XV leagues with various tiers of competition depending on those 2nd teams that wish to play every weekend to those that wish to play infrequently.
With the 2nd XV league each district also run their own cup competitions that run across the season finishing with large finals utilising all of the major stadia we have across the region.
Under 12 to Under 16 Rugby
The competition shall be known as ‘The WRU Dragons Cup’. The format and all playing aspects of ‘The WRU Dragons Cup’ (“Competition”) shall be overseen by the Participation Group and governed by the Governance Group of The District A Game Management Group (GMG).
The competition shall be known as ‘The WRU Dragons Cup’. The format and all playing aspects of ‘The WRU Dragons Cup’ (“Competition”) shall be overseen by the Participation Group and governed by the Governance Group of The District A Game Management Group (GMG).
Under 18 Rugby
There will be 4 Dragons leagues known as Cup Leagues – Yellow, Blue, Green and Red
Each League will be made up of teams that will participate in five league fixtures.
These leagues will feed into the Dragons cup competition.
Semi final placings will be determined by the top team in each league
The team with the highest points gained will be seeded first and will play the team that wins its league with the lowest points. the second will play the third and both first and second will be the home teams.
The same format continues for the Plate, Bowl and Shield with will then enter the knockout phase. Teams placed 5th and 6th will not qualify for the knockout phase.
The finals are played as part of the Roar to Rodney
Senior Rugby
Senior 1st teams compete in National Leagues from Premiership down to Division 6 as well as National Cup competitions.
Athletic Leagues (2XV)
There is currently a Dragons Athletic League available for clubs that are able to field teams in addition to their first team.
District Cups
Senior teams in the region can enter the following District Cups:
Ben Francis Cup
Bryn Meredith Shield
Colin Tuckwell Bowl
Under 12 to Under 16 Rugby
The competition shall be known as ‘The WRU OSPREYS CUP’. The format and all playing aspects of ‘The WRU OSPREYS CUP ’shall be overseen by the District D and District EF Game Management Group (GMG) and WRU OFFICERS.
The competition shall be played under the WRU Player Pathway directives and World Rugby Laws of the Game and in accordance with the WRU Code of Conduct relating to the game of rugby.
The winners progress to the WRU Ospreys cup by winning their District cup format.
There is an additional competition for teams eliminated from their district cup first round. This shall be known as ‘GMG PLATE COMPETITION ’. This will ensure that all teams entered in the competition play at least two matches.
The Cup is open to teams within the Under 12,13,14,15 & 16’s age groups, whose parent Clubs fall under the control of The District D,EF Game Management Group.
Under 18 Rugby
The Competition shall be called The Ospreys U18 cup competitions (Cup, Plate, Bowl, Sheild, Trophy). The Competition shall be played on a “local” group stage to determine what comp they are placed in for the second phase of competition (cup, plate, bowl, shield, trophy). This will be a round robin in each competition with top 2 sides contesting a final.
The Competition’s first phase will consist of 6 Groups with teams grouped as “locally” as possible. All Groups will see teams play each other once (4 fixtures in total, 2 home, 2 away). Each week will see 1 team have a free weekend. Once all fixtures are completed the final positions within the group will determine which competition they move into (1st – Cup, 2nd – Plate, 3rd – Bowl, 4th – Shield, 5th – Trophy).
The second phase will consist of 6 teams in each competition, they will play a maximum of 4 fixtures.
The top 2 or group winners within each competition will meet in a final on “finals day” at a neutral venue.
Senior Rugby
Senior 1st teams compete in National Leagues from Premiership down to Division 6 as well as National Cup competitions.
WRU Conference
The WRU Conference central we as a Ospreys Region have 7 teams entered.
Teams Currently involved are:
Tondu Rangers
Bridgend Athletic Generals
Kenfig Hill Mules
Porthcawl Skyrats
Bonymaen Athletic
Trebanos Development
Dunvant Athletic
Development Leagues (2XV)
There is currently a Ospreys East Development League available for clubs that are able to field teams in addition to their first team.
Teams Currently involved are:
Heol y Cyw RFC Development
Bryncethin RFC Development
Aberavon Green Stars RFC Development
Llanharan RFC Development
Nantyffyllon RFC Development.
There is currently a Swansea 2nd XV Development League split into two pools . available for clubs that are able to field teams in addition to their first team.
Under 12 to Under 16 Rugby
The competition shall be known as ‘The WRU RGC Cup’. The format and all playing aspects of ‘The WRU RGC Cup’ (“Competition”) shall be overseen and governed by the WRU Community team. The competition shall be played under the WRU Player Pathway directives and World Rugby Laws of the Game and in accordance with the WRU Code of Conduct relating to the game of rugby.
There is an additional competition for teams eliminated from The WRU RGC Cup within the first round. Teams will be drawn into a group based on geographical location and play each other in a round robin format during one afternoon. Wherever they finish at the end of the round robin will determine if they will enter the RGC Cup, Plate or the Bowl competition.
This will ensure that all teams entered in the competition play at least four matches in a round robin format and at least one cup/plate or bowl knockout game. All references in this Rules and Guidelines document that refer to ‘The WRU RGC Cup’ will be deemed to equally apply to ‘The WRU RGC Plate and Bowl’.
The Cup is open to teams within the Under 12,13,14,15 & 16’s age groups, whose parent Clubs fall under the control of The District J Game Management Group. All teams wishing to take part in the competition must notify the organisers by the 18th August prior to the first round draw. All Junior & Youth fixture secretaries are requested to discuss team registration numbers and team capabilities with each coach prior to entering teams into the draw to ensure that they can fulfil the Cup fixtures throughout the season.
Clubs who enter the competition and withdraw without a notable or supported reason, should note that this may impact negatively on future requests for that Club to take part in The WRU RGC Cup Competition.
Once notification has been received, the team will be deemed to have entered the competition and to have accepted the terms and conditions of entry.
Under 18 Rugby
RGC – Youth League structure
Pre Christmas –
Teams split East and West (Geographically decided)
8 Teams in both.
Teams to play each other once – Fixtures drawn
Post Christmas
U16s Transition Games
On completion of leagues teams enter into league split on meritocracy
Top 4 prep bottom 4 Champ
Senior Rugby
Senior 1st teams compete in National Leagues from North Wales Division 1 down to Division 3 West/East as well as National Cup competitions.
There are 12 teams in Division 1 North, 10 teams in Division 2 and Division 3 is split Geographically with 10 competing in the East league and 9 in the West.
District Cups
Senior teams in the region can enter the following District Cups.
RGC DIvision 1 Cup
RGC Division 2 Cup
RGC DIvision 3 West Cup
RGC Division 3 East Cup
WRU National Cups
Under 12 to Under 16 Rugby
The pinnacle of the Junior Club Season comes when the winners from the U12s to U16s teams from Carmarthenshire GMG Cup and District H GMG Cup compete for the Scarlets Cups (individual cups per age group) at Parc Y Scarlets. This is an all day event and hosted by the Scarlets where Scarlets players attend to present the trophies. A fantastic occasion and a great opportunity for all the players and clubs involved.
Under 18 Rugby
There are 2 U18 Youth Leagues within the Scarlets Region. One in District H (Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion) and one in District G/F (Carmarthenshire).
Carmarthenshire GMG (District G/F)
The Carmarthenshire League has 5 games prior to Christmas and 5 games post Christmas to establish the League winner. National Cup, Plate and Bowl fixtures also take place throughout the season.
There is a local Cup and Plate Competition which is run throughout the season culminating in a finals evening at a local club. WRU staff and the District G Game Management Group lead on both the League and local cup competition.
Pembrokeshire & District GMG (District H)
District H League is run on a home and away fixture basis and is played pre and post Christmas. National Cup, Plate and Bowl fixtures also take place throughout the season.
There is an U18 local cup and plate competition. The Cup Competition is an historical competition and the finalists play for the “Griffiths Cup”. The final tales place at Neyland RFC.
The District also runs a transitional U17s Cup and all clubs are invited to participate. The clubs compete for the “Mike Fry Cup” The final takes place at Tenby RFC.
Senior Clubs Compete in the following competitions within the Scarlets Region:
Senior Rugby
Senior 1st XV teams compete in National Leagues from Premiership down to Division 4 as well as National Cup, Plate and Bowl competitions.
2nd XV
There is a variety of playing opportunities within the Region for Clubs able to field a 2nd XV.
The premier 2nd XV competition is the National Conference League and is played at a local level for 2nd XV teams who can field regular squads and play on a regular basis with fixtures being set Nationally.
For clubs that wish to compete on a more local level the Llanelli and District League Competition is available. You must be a member of Llanelli and District to compete in the League. All fixtures, rules and regulations are administered by Llanelli and District.
Pembrokeshire and District Cup and Plate Competition.
Any member club of Pembrokeshire and District may enter the Cup Competiton.
This incorporates all clubs within District H.
First round cup fixtures are played in August and the losing team will then drop into the Plate competion. This gives the clubs the opportunity of a minimum of 2 fixtures.
The competition is administered by Pembrokeshire and District Committee.
Llanelli and District Cup and Plate 2nd XV
To take part in the above competition you must be a member club of Llanelli and District and complete a minimum amount of fixtures within the League.
Clubs enter the Cup Competition and first round losing teams then drop into the plate competition.
Finals of both Competitions are played at Parc Y Scarlets on a Saturday afternoon.
The competition is administered by Llanelli and District.
Representative Senior Rugby West Wales Inter District Squad
There is a current offering to players who play in Division 3 and below for West Wales member clubs to play representative rugby for West Wales in the National Inter District Competition.
Clubs nominate players for selection and a squad is elected to play in the competition.
Vets Touch Rugby
Vets touch rugby is an inclusive non-contact format of the game. Whilst there may be a competitive element to a game of touch rugby, the primary objective of vets touch rugby is to create a gender neutral, enjoyable and social format of the game allowing more people to enjoy playing the game regardless of age or ability.
Walking Rugby
Walking Rugby is an inclusive non-contact format of the game played at walking pace. Whilst there may be a competitive element to a game of touch rugby, the primary objective of walking touch rugby is to create a gender neutral, enjoyable and social format of the game allowing more people to enjoy playing the game regardless of age or ability.