Welsh rugby: Neath presses case to be in new Elite Domestic Competition

Neath's home ground The Gnoll has also hosted Ospreys games

Neath is to press its case to be in Welsh rugby's new Elite Domestic Competition (EDC) from 2024-25.

In a strongly-worded letter to fans, club bosses criticised their omission by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) as "grossly unfair" and "reprehensible".

They also dispute what the club says is the WRU's view of its finances.

"This is an historic and proud club with passionate supporters and an enviable history. We will not take any decision lightly," the letter read.

The WRU and Ospreys have been asked to comment.

The governing body has already named nine clubs to be in the EDC from 2024-25 that will replace the existing Welsh Premiership.

However it has appealed for a tenth team to apply for the league to "perform at its optimum level".

No Cardiff regional club is on that list. Cardiff and Pontypridd still have the chance to apply, but have not publicly stated their intentions, while Merthyr said they will not bid.

Neath want to be the tenth team, though three clubs from Ospreys region - Swansea, Aberavon and Bridgend Ravens - have already been accepted into the revamped tier.

'Here to stay'

They said the club was denied a place because the WRU asserted it had a negative credit rating and financial position, a business plan that was "too ambitious" and a lack of a relationship with the Ospreys.

Neath bosses wrote: "We will defend our position with velocity and energy. To not be mentioned in the WRU press release means we are irrelevant to them.

"Regardless of the decision by the WRU, we operate for the players, the fans and the community and will do incredible things in rugby and the community. We are not irrelevant and we are here to stay."

Neath bosses say they have documents to prove the clam of financial non-compliance and poor credit rating is "bogus and harmful" and evidence of their "difficult dealings" with Ospreys.

They added they have been involved in on-going talks with the governing body over an historic debt related to rent payments "dating back 20 years".

"This gross idiosyncratic "additional rent payment" to the WRU remains an historic debt that burdens us," the club said.

"While paying circa £300k to the WRU, we have yet to have been provided with the original agreement or ledger. This is ongoing.

"Put simply, we wish to bring the sublease from a 2004 agreement from then CEO (David) Moffat [Moffett] and then owners of the Ltd company at Neath, back in-house.

"We would welcome a meeting about this having failed as a club for nearly a year to get anywhere."

The WRU initially announced the new structure in August 2023 and expects the process to "be completed by early Spring".