WRU Challenge Cup

File:SWALEC Cup.gif

The WRU Challenge Cup (currently known as the WRU Premiership Cup, formally called the Welsh Rugby Union Challenge Cup, is Wales' premier knockout rugby union competition and is organised by the Welsh Rugby Union. As of 2022, it has been divided into separate Cup competitions Premiership Cup, Championship Cup, Division 1 Cup etc. as well as the Bowl and Plate editions for other lower divisions. The competition is now seen as the top cup prize for the community game, separate from the Super Rygbi Cymru competitions.

On 26 February 2007, the WRU agreed a new £1 million three-year sponsorship deal with SWALEC, who had previously sponsored the event from the 1992–93 season until the 1998–99 season; the Cup was renamed the SWALEC Cup once again.{{cite web |title=SWALEC becomes new power behind Welsh rugby |url=https://community.wru.wales/2008/02/26/swalec-becomes-new-power-behind-welsh-rugby/ |website=Welsh Rugby Union |access-date=26 March 2025 |date=26 February 2008}} The SWALEC Cup is a three-tier competition with Cup, Plate and Bowl winners. In the inaugural year, the SWALEC Plate was contested by clubs that were knocked out of the SWALEC Cup in the first two rounds, while the SWALEC Bowl was contested by clubs that were eliminated in the first round of the Plate competition.[http://www.wru.co.uk/downloads/pdfs/WRU-Rules-2008-2009-SWALEC-Cup.pdf The Swalec Cup, Bowl and Plate rules 2008/09] In its second year, the WRU directly split the three competitions, with teams from Divisions 4–6 competing for the Bowl, teams from Divisions 2–3 competing for the Plate, and teams from the Premiership and Division 1 competing for the Cup.

The current WRU Premiership Cup holders are Pontypridd who beat Cross Keys 43-12 at the Millennium Stadium on 5 April 2025.

Past winners

class="wikitable"
Year !Winners !Score !Runner-up !Final venue
1972 \| Neath \|align="center"\| 15–9 \| Llanelli \|rowspan=12\| Cardiff Arms Park
1973 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 30–7 \| Cardiff
1974 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 12–10 \| Aberavon
1975 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 15–6 \| Aberavon
1976 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 16–4 \| Swansea
1977 \| Newport \|align="center"\| 16–15 \| Cardiff
1978 \| Swansea \|align="center"\| 13–9 \| Newport
1979 \| Bridgend \|align="center"\| 18–12 \| Pontypridd
1980 \| Bridgend \|align="center"\| 15–9 \| Swansea
1981 \| Cardiff \|align="center"\| 14–6 \| Bridgend
1982 \| Cardiff \|align="center"\| 12–12 (Cardiff win on try count) \| Bridgend
1983 \| Pontypool \|align="center"\| 18–6 \| Swansea
1984 \| Cardiff \|align="center"\| 24–19 \| Neath \|rowspan=14\| National Stadium
1985 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 15–14 \| Cardiff
1986 \| Cardiff \|align="center"\| 28–21 \| Newport
1987 \| Cardiff \|align="center"\| 16–15 (after extra time) \| Swansea
1988 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 28–13 \| Neath
1989 \| Neath \|align="center"\| 14–13 \| Llanelli
1990 \| Neath \|align="center"\| 16–10 \| Bridgend
1991 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 24–9 \| Pontypool
1992 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 16–7 \| Swansea
1993 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 21–18 \| Neath
1994 \| Cardiff \|align="center"\| 15–8 \| Llanelli
1995 \| Swansea \|align="center"\| 17–12 \| Pontypridd
1996 \| Pontypridd \|align="center"\| 29–22 \| Neath
1997 \| Cardiff \|align="center"\| 33–26 \| Swansea
1998 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 19–12 \| Ebbw Vale \| Ashton Gate
1999 \| Swansea \|align="center"\| 37–10 \| Llanelli \| Ninian Park
2000 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 22–12 \| Swansea \|rowspan=26\| Millennium Stadium
2001 \| Newport \|align="center"\| 13–8 \| Neath
2002 \| Pontypridd \|align="center"\| 20–17 \| Llanelli
2003 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 32–9 \| Newport
2004 \| Neath \|align="center"\| 36–13 \| Caerphilly
2005 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 25–24 \| Pontypridd
2006 \| Pontypridd \|align="center"\| 26–25 \| Neath
2007 \| Llandovery \|align="center"\| 20–18 \| Cardiff
2008 \| Neath \|align="center"\| 28–22 \| Pontypridd
2009 \| Neath \|align="center"\| 27–21 \| Llanelli
2010 \| Llanelli \|align="center"\| 20–8 \| Carmarthen
2011 \| Pontypridd \|align="center"\| 35–24 \| Aberavon
2012 \| Cross Keys \|align="center"\| 32–19 \| Pontypridd
2013 \| Pontypridd \|align="center"\| 34–13 \| Neath
2014 \| Pontypridd \|align="center"\| 21–8 \| Cross Keys
2015 \| Bridgend \|align="center"\| 19–15 \| Pontypridd
2016 \| Llandovery \|align="center"\| 25–18 \| Carmarthen
2017 \| RGC 1404 \|align="center"\| 15–11 \| Pontypridd
2018 \| Merthyr \|align="center"\| 41–7 \| Newport
2019 \| Cardiff \|align="center"\| 25–19 \| Merthyr
2020 \|scope="col" colspan="3" {{N/a\|Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic}}
2021 \|scope="col" colspan="3" {{N/a\|Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic}}
2022 \| Newport \|align="center"\| 25–21 \| Aberavon
2023 \| Cardiff \|align="center"\| 13-10 \| Newport
2024 \| Llandovery \|align="center"\| 20-18 \| Merthyr
2025 \| Pontypridd \|align="center"\| 43-12 \| Cross Keys Category:Rugby union competitions in Wales Wales

class="wikitable"

Year

!Winners

!Score

!Runner-up

!Final venue

1972

| Neath

|align="center"| 15–9

| Llanelli

|rowspan=12| Cardiff Arms Park

1973

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 30–7

| Cardiff

1974

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 12–10

| Aberavon

1975

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 15–6

| Aberavon

1976

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 16–4

| Swansea

1977

| Newport

|align="center"| 16–15

| Cardiff

1978

| Swansea

|align="center"| 13–9

| Newport

1979

| Bridgend

|align="center"| 18–12

| Pontypridd

1980

| Bridgend

|align="center"| 15–9

| Swansea

1981

| Cardiff

|align="center"| 14–6

| Bridgend

1982

| Cardiff

|align="center"| 12–12
(Cardiff win on try count)

| Bridgend

1983

| Pontypool

|align="center"| 18–6

| Swansea

1984

| Cardiff

|align="center"| 24–19

| Neath

|rowspan=14| National Stadium

1985

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 15–14

| Cardiff

1986

| Cardiff

|align="center"| 28–21

| Newport

1987

| Cardiff

|align="center"| 16–15
(after extra time)

| Swansea

1988

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 28–13

| Neath

1989

| Neath

|align="center"| 14–13

| Llanelli

1990

| Neath

|align="center"| 16–10

| Bridgend

1991

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 24–9

| Pontypool

1992

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 16–7

| Swansea

1993

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 21–18

| Neath

1994

| Cardiff

|align="center"| 15–8

| Llanelli

1995

| Swansea

|align="center"| 17–12

| Pontypridd

1996

| Pontypridd

|align="center"| 29–22

| Neath

1997

| Cardiff

|align="center"| 33–26

| Swansea

1998

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 19–12

| Ebbw Vale

| Ashton Gate

1999

| Swansea

|align="center"| 37–10

| Llanelli

| Ninian Park

2000

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 22–12

| Swansea

|rowspan=26| Millennium Stadium

2001

| Newport

|align="center"| 13–8

| Neath

2002

| Pontypridd

|align="center"| 20–17

| Llanelli

2003

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 32–9

| Newport

2004

| Neath

|align="center"| 36–13

| Caerphilly

2005

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 25–24

| Pontypridd

2006

| Pontypridd

|align="center"| 26–25

| Neath

2007

| Llandovery

|align="center"| 20–18

| Cardiff

2008

| Neath

|align="center"| 28–22

| Pontypridd

2009

| Neath

|align="center"| 27–21

| Llanelli

2010

| Llanelli

|align="center"| 20–8

| Carmarthen

2011

| Pontypridd

|align="center"| 35–24

| Aberavon

2012

| Cross Keys

|align="center"| 32–19

| Pontypridd

2013

| Pontypridd

|align="center"| 34–13

| Neath

2014

| Pontypridd

|align="center"| 21–8

| Cross Keys

2015

| Bridgend

|align="center"| 19–15

| Pontypridd

2016

| Llandovery

|align="center"| 25–18

| Carmarthen

2017

| RGC 1404

|align="center"| 15–11

| Pontypridd

2018

| Merthyr

|align="center"| 41–7

| Newport

2019

| Cardiff

|align="center"| 25–19

| Merthyr

2020

|scope="col" colspan="3" {{N/a|Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic}}

2021

|scope="col" colspan="3" {{N/a|Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic}}

2022

| Newport

|align="center"| 25–21

| Aberavon

2023

| Cardiff

|align="center"| 13-10

| Newport

2024

| Llandovery

|align="center"| 20-18

| Merthyr

2025

| Pontypridd

|align="center"| 43-12

| Cross Keys

Category:Rugby union competitions in Wales

Wales

Total finals by club

class="wikitable sortable"
Team !Winners !Runners-up
Llanelli \|14 \|6
Cardiff \|9 \|4
Pontypridd \|7 \|6
Neath \|6 \|7
Llandovery \|3 \|0
Swansea \|3 \|7
Bridgend \|3 \|3
Newport \|3 \|4
Cross Keys \|1 \|2
Merthyr \|1 \|2
Pontypool \|1 \|1
RGC 1404 \|1 \|0
Aberavon \|0 \|4
Carmarthen Quins \|0 \|2
Caerphilly \|0 \|1
Ebbw Vale \|0 \|1

class="wikitable sortable"

Team

!Winners

!Runners-up

|14

Sponsorship

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Period ! Sponsor ! Name
1971–1977 \|{{N/A}} \|WRU Challenge Cup
1977–1992 \|Schweppes \|Schweppes Cup{{cite news \|title=Aid for rugby \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19770702/324/0017 \|work=The Scotsman \|date=2 July 1977 \|page=17 \|via=British Newspaper Archive \|url-access=subscription}}
1992–1999 \|SWALEC \|SWALEC Cup{{cite news \|title=Cup Deal \|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004733/19921120/026/0026 \|work=South Wales Echo \|date=20 November 1992 \|page=26 \|via=British Newspaper Archive \|url-access=subscription}}
1999–2000 \|{{N/A}} \|WRU Challenge Cup
2000–2003 \|Principality Building Society \|Principality Cup{{cite news \|title=Principality's boost to WRU \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1145035419 \|work=South Wales Argus \|date=30 August 2000 \|page=77 \|via=Newspapers.com \|url-access=subscription}}
2003–2008 \|Konica Minolta \|Konica Minolta Cup{{cite web \|title=WRU announce Konica Minolta Cup sponsorship \|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15370849/wru-announce-konica-minolta-cup-sponsorship \|website=ESPN \|access-date=26 March 2025 \|date=27 November 2003}}
2008–2016 \|SWALEC \|SWALEC Cup
2016–2019 \|{{N/A}} \|WRU National Cup
2019–2021 \|Specsavers \|Specsavers Cup{{cite web \|title=Specsavers National League fixtures announced \|url=https://community.wru.wales/2019/06/21/specsavers-national-league-fixtures-announced/ \|website=Welsh Rugby Union \|access-date=26 March 2025 \|date=21 June 2019}}
2021–2024 \|Indigo Group \|Indigo Group Premiership Cup{{cite web \|title=Welsh Premiership returns with new cup competition \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58097221 \|website=BBC Sport \|access-date=26 March 2025 \|date=5 August 2021}}
2024–present \|{{N/A}} \|WRU Premiership Cup

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

Period

! Sponsor

! Name

1971–1977

|{{N/A}}

|WRU Challenge Cup

1977–1992

|Schweppes

|Schweppes Cup{{cite news |title=Aid for rugby |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19770702/324/0017 |work=The Scotsman |date=2 July 1977 |page=17 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}

1992–1999

|SWALEC

|SWALEC Cup{{cite news |title=Cup Deal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004733/19921120/026/0026 |work=South Wales Echo |date=20 November 1992 |page=26 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}

1999–2000

|{{N/A}}

|WRU Challenge Cup

2000–2003

|Principality Building Society

|Principality Cup{{cite news |title=Principality's boost to WRU |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1145035419 |work=South Wales Argus |date=30 August 2000 |page=77 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}

2003–2008

|Konica Minolta

|Konica Minolta Cup{{cite web |title=WRU announce Konica Minolta Cup sponsorship |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15370849/wru-announce-konica-minolta-cup-sponsorship |website=ESPN |access-date=26 March 2025 |date=27 November 2003}}

2008–2016

|SWALEC

|SWALEC Cup

2016–2019

|{{N/A}}

|WRU National Cup

2019–2021

|Specsavers

|Specsavers Cup{{cite web |title=Specsavers National League fixtures announced |url=https://community.wru.wales/2019/06/21/specsavers-national-league-fixtures-announced/ |website=Welsh Rugby Union |access-date=26 March 2025 |date=21 June 2019}}

2021–2024

|Indigo Group

|Indigo Group Premiership Cup{{cite web |title=Welsh Premiership returns with new cup competition |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58097221 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=26 March 2025 |date=5 August 2021}}

2024–present

|{{N/A}}

|WRU Premiership Cup

External links

[http://www.wru.co.uk/633.php SWALEC Cup website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080430014638/http://www.wru.co.uk/86_641.php Konica Minolta Cup: A Brief History]

WRU Challenge Cup

Past winners

Total finals by club

Sponsorship

External links

References

See also