Cardiff RFC have pipped Neath RFC to the 10th and final place in Welsh rugby’s new 10-team Elite Domestic Competition (EDC).

The capital club joined the second phase of the application process after the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) awarded nine clubs a licence to compete in the new competition.

The WRU appealed for a 10th club to join the competition to “perform at its optimum level”.

The governing body have now turned down both of Neath’s applications to join the EDC.

The club described their initial omission from the EDC as “grossly unfair” and “reprehensible”.

The new competition is designed to bridge the gap between the semi-professional teams and the four professional regions, with a particular emphasis on developing players between 18-25.

The competition will replace the existing Welsh Premiership from next season and will be ring-fenced for three seasons, with no promotion or relegation and include a salary cap for all squads.

This latest decision means that the full list of clubs taking part in the EDC from the 2024/25 season is: Aberavon, Bridgend, Carmarthen Quins, Ebbw Vale, Llandovery, Pontypool, Newport, RGC 1404, Swansea, and now Cardiff.

The WRU says an expert panel, which included two independent members, considered the applications consisting of club business plans, rugby performance plans and other key data.

Applications were evaluated against five criteria: organisational due diligence, rugby development, growth potential, unique selling point and public interest.

“We now have the recommended 10 licences in place and can look forward to a competition which will provide the missing link between our elite professional teams in Wales and the community game and vastly improve our pathway provision at the same time,” said WRU Executive Director of Performance, Nigel Walker.

“We are grateful to all those who applied to join the EDC, it is unfortunate for Neath that, despite an improved application, they didn’t score enough points to be considered for a licence.”

WRU Performance Director Huw Bevan added: “This is a hugely exciting development for Welsh rugby and we need to ensure we have the right building blocks in place to achieve our ambitious aims for this competition.

“The league will integrate our long-standing, ambitious and committed semi-professional clubs in Wales with the professional game. It will support the development of high potential young professional players but also drive the quality of the domestic semi-professional game.”

Neath Miss Out

Alongside their two applications to join the league, Neath launched a sustained social media campaign to bring more publicity to their fight to join the league.

Former international rugby players, such as Jonathan Davies and Shane Williams, as well as celebrities with connection to the club have given support to the club’s bid.

Despite this, their first application in Marsh was deemed the lowest ranking applicant and its score was significantly lower than any other.

Neath scored 130 of a potential total 268 points that were available under the licensing criteria, which was 88 behind the applicant ranked directly above in the scoring system.

“We are acutely aware that this will be difficult news for all of those at Neath rugby club and their supporters and we thank them genuinely for their passion and commitment to the process,” said Walker.

“The club will be eligible for a parachute payment as they join the Championship competition, with potential reconsideration for EDC next available in three-years’ time.

“It is unfortunate for Neath that, despite an improved application, they didn’t score enough points to be considered for a licence.”

Neath issued a statement in response to the decision: “We have been at pains throughout to stress that this is not about Neath and Cardiff or any of the other clubs for that matter.

“We believe that Cardiff is an elite club… but so too is Neath RFC.

“We are formulating a formal response to the WRU as we still have concerns as to the integrity and veracity of the process.

“Neath as a Town is under attack on many fronts and we urge everyone to show their support for us and our defence of our rugby community, culture, and heritage.”

Finally a Cardiff-based Club

Cardiff, who initially declined to apply to the league, competed for the final place after the WRU appealed for a Cardiff-based club to join the league.

No club in the Cardiff regional umbrella was among the initial nine EDC teams announced by the WRU in February.

Merthyr and Pontypridd also declined to enter, with the clubs claiming that the reduced competition was “financially unviable and disengaging for players” and had the potential to “jeopardise its solvency as a commercial entity”, respectively.

“Many congratulations to Cardiff who submitted a bid which placed them high up in the rankings on the scorecard we have used for awarding a licence,” Walker added.