Clubs face 'balancing act' in second SRC season

Newport won the inaugural Super Rygbi Cymru title in 2024-25

Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) returns on Friday night as 10 clubs attempt to get the balance right, pushing for silverware while also providing chances to young talent.

Champions Newport get the 2025-26 campaign under way on home soil when they entertain Llandovery (19:45 BST), who won the last two titles of Wales' top semi-professional tier during its previous incarnation as the Welsh Premiership.

Four more games follow on Saturday afternoon in a competition that features 10 clubs.

Ebbw Vale put the SRC Challenger Shield on the line against Aberavon at Eugene Cross Park, Bridgend host Carmarthen Quins, Pontypool entertain Swansea and Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) take on Cardiff in Colwyn Bay.

The Premiership was rebranded as SRC last season and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) was pleased with how the first campaign went.

The average age of players fell from 26.5 to 25 while game time for under-20s increased by 70%.

"The style of play across the SRC was fast, ambitious, and exciting," said WRU head of player development John Alder.

"We saw an average of 34 minutes of ball-in-play time, just a minute behind the URC, and matches were packed with points, tries, and attacking intent."

The salary cap has gone up to £160,000 from £150,000 for this season while the governing body has said its 'optimum solution' for the elite game "would release significant investment" in the SRC, although it provided no detail on that statement.

Champions against Premiership kings

Newport beat Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park to become SRC champions

Champions Newport and Llandovery have established themselves at the top of the semi-professional game under bosses Ty Morris and Euros Evans.

They have helped young Dragons and Scarlets prospects flourish while also winning games and claiming trophies.

Plenty are keen to push for SRC to be a development tool and for the gap to professional level to be closed, yet fans of the 10 clubs want wins.

"You have to get the balance right," said Newport head coach Ty Morris, whose side won the 2025 grand final at Ebbw Vale.

"The standards wouldn't be high enough if there were squads full of 20-year-olds. There needs to be a spine of former professionals or experienced players alongside the younger players.

"They also need to earn the right to be in the team – if they are not good enough then that drives them to get better.

"I believe development happens through having a sprinkling of academy players rather than loading up your side, although there are different models.

"It worked really well for Cardiff last season when they had plenty of Wales Under-20s backs all playing together."

Newport won the title last season but also helped fly-half Jac Lloyd and centre or wing David Richards earn Dragons deals.

The Rodney Parade region leaned on Llandovery for their final URC game of the season when borrowing prop Jamie Hughes, who impressed when called into action early on in the fixture against the title-chasing Bulls in Pretoria.

Plenty of academy talent will aim to follow in the footsteps of Macs Page by starring for a Drovers side that is steered by the likes of evergreen scrum-half Lee Rees and centre Adam Warren.

Llandovery head coach Evans said: "Fortunately the Scarlets have had two successful years at under-18s level and those players will progress into the SRC with ourselves and Carmarthen Quins.

"It's our responsibility to make sure their journey through to the top happens and that we support them on their way."

Mind the gap

Former Wales forward Jonathan Thomas was appointed as Swansea head coach in June 2025

Former Wales and Ospreys forward Jonathan Thomas is well qualified to assess the current gap between SRC and URC.

The 42-year-old is now in charge of Swansea, who finished bottom of the table last season and lost to Bridgend in the wildcard round of the play-offs, after returning from England.

Thomas played for Worcester at the end of his career, then coached at Bristol, Worcester and Ealing Trailfinders.

"There's obviously a difference between the Championship and the English Premiership, but it's not huge," he said.

"If Premiership clubs see a Champ player doing well they'll bring him into their squad, there's no qualms about that. That's where we have to get to with the SRC, it plays a vital role.

"I'm not privy to what's going to end up happening with the regions but having a strong SRC is vital to the development of Welsh rugby, not just for the players but for the supporters.

"Going to watch the local team and the tribalism is what Welsh rugby is all about."

Excitement in the north

That tribalism is a little different for RGC, who have to listen to grumbles about the journey to Colwyn Bay when they have 11 league and cup trips south each campaign.

The north Walians do not have the same links with the professional sides as their rivals, who are bolstered by academy prospects and established professionals who are on the comeback trail.

RGC finished eighth last season and then suffered a home wildcard defeat to Carmarthen Quins, but they did claim the scalps of Ebbw Vale and Llandovery.

They operate in a different way to their southern rivals and 2017 WRU National Cup winners intend to cause some problems.

"On our day we can beat anyone – and we know that – we play a really exciting expansive style of rugby," said general manager Alun Pritchard.

"Sometimes that can backfire on us, in certain conditions or against certain teams, that style can potentially hamper us, but it's exciting for the fans and that's what we're there to do.

"We want to give north Walians an opportunity to develop and get to the top of their game and, if we can do that in an exciting manner, then that's good."

Opening weekend fixtures

Friday, 12 September

Newport v Llandovery (19:45 BST)

Saturday, 13 September

Bridgend v Carmarthen (14:30 BST)

Ebbw Vale v Aberavon (14:30 BST)

Pontypool v Swansea (14:30 BST)

RGC v Cardiff RFC (14:30 BST)