Two Welsh rugby teams, New Tredegar and St Julians, have been removed from Division 4 East due to their failure to complete their fixtures for the season. As a result, their results and points have been expunged, and they will have to begin next season at the lowest level, in division six.
In a brief statement confirming the news, a spokesperson for the WRU stated: “St Julians and New Tredegar are to be withdrawn from Division 4 East for the remainder of the season in line with Rule 8 of the National League Rules & Regulations 23-24. Consequently, should they wish to return to the National League pyramid then they will do so at the lowest possible level.”
This decision comes after both teams had difficulty consistently fielding players and experienced game cancellations due to adverse weather conditions, leading to their inability to fulfill their fixtures.
In a recent concerning incident at the grassroots level, Cwmcarn United of Division 6 East suffered a significant 108-0 defeat by Hartridge after failing to field a full side. Additionally, West Mon’s inability to assemble a team has effectively halted the promotion push from Division 4 East side Forgeside RFC for five months.
Ray Davies, a committee member for New Tredegar, commented on the situation, noting that many local sides are facing challenges. He stated, “We’ve got seven available dates to play until the end of the season, and we’ve got nine fixtures to finish. So we’ll not finish our fixtures. It’s a mixture of things. Earlier in the season we had games cancelled due to a lack of players. Of course there’s been the weather. We’ve lost five or six games to the weather. The two combined means we can’t fulfill our fixtures.”
Davies further stressed, “At the moment, it’s like a lot of clubs. We’re going through some hard times. There’s a severe lack of players in our area. We’re not the only club struggling. Now we’re down to six, maybe some more players might come out of the woodwork and think the league might be a bit easier. We’re just hoping we can get things back to par next year.”
This situation is not unique to these two teams, as other clubs are also encountering similar difficulties, attributable in part to a severe lack of players and other unforeseen circumstances. Both New Tredegar and St Julians are just a few examples of this ongoing issue at the grassroots level of the game.
The reassignment of New Tredegar and St Julians to the bottom division serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by local rugby clubs. The situation also underscores the need for support and strategies to address these challenges and ensure the sustainability of grassroots rugby.
In conclusion, the reassignment of New Tredegar and St Julians to the bottom division reflects the obstacles faced by local rugby teams. The decision by the WRU to enforce the rules underlines the importance of maintaining the integrity of league participation and emphasizes the need for continued efforts to address the issues afflicting grassroots rugby in Wales.