The WRU Challenge Cup (currently known as the Specsavers Cup due to sponsorship), or its full name of 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.
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 will again become the SWALEC Cup.[1] The SWALEC Cup is a three tier competition with Cup, Plate and Bowl winners. In the inaugural year the SWALEC Plate was competed for by clubs who are knocked out of the SWALEC Cup in the first two rounds, while the SWALEC Bowl was competed for by clubs who are knocked out of the first round of the plate competition.[2] In its second year of the WRU split the three competitions directly with teams from Division 4–6 competing for the Bowl, teams from Division 2–3 competing for the Plate and teams from the Premiership and Division 1 competing for the Cup.
The current Indigo Premiership Cup holders are Llandovery who beat Merthyr 20-18 at the Millennium Stadium on 7th April 2024.
Past winners
edit| Year | Winners | Score | Runner-up | Final venue | Name of Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Neath | 15–9 | Llanelli | Cardiff Arms Park | WRU Challenge Cup |
| 1973 | Llanelli | 30–7 | Cardiff | ||
| 1974 | Llanelli | 12–10 | Aberavon | ||
| 1975 | Llanelli | 15–6 | Aberavon | ||
| 1976 | Llanelli | 16–4 | Swansea | ||
| 1977 | Newport | 16–15 | Cardiff | Schweppes Cup | |
| 1978 | Swansea | 13–9 | Newport | ||
| 1979 | Bridgend | 18–12 | Pontypridd | ||
| 1980 | Bridgend | 15–9 | Swansea | ||
| 1981 | Cardiff | 14–6 | Bridgend | ||
| 1982 | Cardiff | 12–12 (Cardiff win on try count) |
Bridgend | ||
| 1983 | Pontypool | 18–6 | Swansea | ||
| 1984 | Cardiff | 24–19 | Neath | National Stadium | |
| 1985 | Llanelli | 15–14 | Cardiff | ||
| 1986 | Cardiff | 28–21 | Newport | ||
| 1987 | Cardiff | 16–15 (after extra time) |
Swansea | ||
| 1988 | Llanelli | 28–13 | Neath | ||
| 1989 | Neath | 14–13 | Llanelli | ||
| 1990 | Neath | 16–10 | Bridgend | ||
| 1991 | Llanelli | 24–9 | Pontypool | ||
| 1992 | Llanelli | 16–7 | Swansea | ||
| 1993 | Llanelli | 21–18 | Neath | SWALEC Cup | |
| 1994 | Cardiff | 15–8 | Llanelli | ||
| 1995 | Swansea | 17–12 | Pontypridd | ||
| 1996 | Pontypridd | 29–22 | Neath | ||
| 1997 | Cardiff | 33–26 | Swansea | ||
| 1998 | Llanelli | 19–12 | Ebbw Vale | Ashton Gate | |
| 1999 | Swansea | 37–10 | Llanelli | Ninian Park | |
| 2000 | Llanelli | 22–12 | Swansea | Millennium Stadium | WRU Challenge Cup |
| 2001 | Newport | 13–8 | Neath | Principality Cup | |
| 2002 | Pontypridd | 20–17 | Llanelli | ||
| 2003 | Llanelli | 32–9 | Newport | ||
| 2004 | Neath | 36–13 | Caerphilly | Konica Minolta Cup | |
| 2005 | Llanelli | 25–24 | Pontypridd | ||
| 2006 | Pontypridd | 26–25 | Neath | ||
| 2007 | Llandovery | 20–18 | Cardiff | ||
| 2008 | Neath | 28–22 | Pontypridd | ||
| 2009 | Neath | 27–21 | Llanelli | SWALEC Cup | |
| 2010 | Llanelli | 20–8 | Carmarthen | ||
| 2011 | Pontypridd | 35–24 | Aberavon | ||
| 2012 | Cross Keys | 32–19 | Pontypridd | ||
| 2013 | Pontypridd | 34–13 | Neath | ||
| 2014 | Pontypridd | 21–8 | Cross Keys | ||
| 2015 | Bridgend | 19–15 | Pontypridd | ||
| 2016 | Llandovery | 25–18 | Carmarthen | SSE SWALEC Cup | |
| 2017 | RGC 1404 | 15–11 | Pontypridd | WRU National Cup | |
| 2018 | Merthyr | 41–7 | Newport | ||
| 2019 | Cardiff | 25–19 | Merthyr | Specsavers National Cup | |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2021 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2022 | Newport | 25–21 | Aberavon | Indigo Premiership Cup* | |
| 2023 | Cardiff | 13-10 | Newport | ||
| 2024 | Llandovery | 20-18 | Merthyr | ||
Total finals by club
edit| Team | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Llanelli | 14 | 6 |
| Cardiff | 9 | 4 |
| Neath | 6 | 7 |
| Pontypridd | 6 | 6 |
| Swansea | 3 | 7 |
| Bridgend | 3 | 3 |
| Newport | 3 | 4 |
| Llandovery | 3 | 0 |
| Cross Keys | 1 | 1 |
| Merthyr | 1 | 2 |
| Pontypool | 1 | 1 |
| RGC 1404 | 1 | 0 |
| Aberavon | 0 | 4 |
| Carmarthen Quins | 0 | 2 |
| Caerphilly | 0 | 1 |
| Ebbw Vale | 0 | 1 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "SWALEC becomes new power behind Welsh rugby". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
- ^ The Swalec Cup, Bowl and Plate rules 2008/09