Club Statement - WRU Elite Domestic Competition (EDC)

The deadline for the submission of expressions of interest in relation to participation in the EDC has now passed. Pontypool RFC can confirm that it has submitted the required expression of interest and will welcome any invitation to submit a formal application in due course.

Negotiations of the competition structure naturally took place for the most part without our involvement having only been promoted last season. We can confirm, however, that we have been fully briefed since our promotion was confirmed.

We would like to thank both the Premiership Division Clubs (PDC) sub group for their representations throughout the negotiations and also commend John Alder at the WRU for the significant body of work that has gone on since the outline of the current structure was accepted by the PDC in June.

We are, of course, aware of recent press coverage on this matter and were also present at the PDC meeting on Wednesday evening of this week. Whilst we clearly do not share the views of some of our fellow clubs, we fully support their individual rights to do as they see fit and very much value their independence as we, of course, do our own.

Having fully assessed the proposals contained within the EDC documentation it was an unanimous decision of both the executive and coaching teams to fully participate in the process. Over the past decade all those involved at Pontypool RFC have been, despite numerous well-documented setbacks, singularly determined that the club should play its rugby at the highest level available to it and the opportunity to strive for even higher standards is not a challenge we will shy away from.

The club is a founding member of the WRU and is hugely proud of the list of former players of the club who have gone on to represent both Wales and the British Lions. Whilst we fiercely maintain the integrity of our identity we will continue to work on adding to those lists in the future by maintaining and enhancing our on-going partnerships.