WELSH RUGBY UNION TO INTRODUCE NEW TOURNAMENT

Rugby Union

The Welsh are to introduce an experimental new tournament in the New Year. The WRU Midweek Competition has been designed to encourage clubs to play attacking and positive rugby and that is reflected in a number of rule changes: six points will be awarded for tries, conversions will be banned and penalty kicks will only be allowed for acts of foul play and offside. Clubs will be split into four pools of four teams with the winners of each pool progressing to a semi-final on 27 February. The competition will start on 9 January, when Pontypool host Cross Keys and Abercynon meet Blaina. The final is set to take place on 12 March.