The Welsh Rugby Union has told clubs matches can now be played with as few as 12 players on each team in a bid to get the season completed on time.
Around 200 Welsh National League matches have failed to take place already this season for different reasons, with the inability of many clubs to consistently raise a side chief among them.
Now, with the WRU determined to get the season completed so the 2023/24 structure can be implemented, every club has received a letter informing them of the plan.
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It states that fixtures can take place with 12, 13 or 14-a-side if both clubs are in agreement. Scrums will be uncontested and the game will not be abandoned even if a side loses a player to fall below 12, unless there becomes a four-player disparity between the two teams. Teams who have a full matchday squad available but agree to play with reduced numbers will be allowed to use all their replacements.
The WRU is strongly urging clubs to adopt the approach to ensure games are played and start in a "fair and equitable manner". Clubs unable to raise sides will be docked points if no agreement can be reached and matches fail to happen. The number of matches not taking place this season is a huge concern for the community game and its long-term future.
Now, as of January 7, 2023, teams will be able to claim or award points retrospectively from matches that don't take place. This will also apply to matches earlier in the season that never happened.
The WRU regulations state: "Should Team A be unable to fulfil a scheduled league fixture against Team B, and there is no mutual agreement to rearrange, then Team A will be deducted four National League points. Team B will be able to claim a 20-0 victory and five points. Team A can also forfeit the result to Team B whilst still receiving a four-point deduction."
Changes are coming to Welsh rugby next season, with the increase from 12 to 14 teams in the Welsh Premiership having knock-on effects further down the pyramid.
There will be an accompanying major change to the Championship from 2023-24. It will be split into two regional leagues of 12 teams each: east and west. As part of that re-jig, 12 clubs will be promoted from the various sections in Division One to make it 24 sides in the new two-group Championship. There will be no relegation from any of the leagues in the WRU pyramid at the end of this season, but there will be promotion as teams move up to fill the spaces created by the changes above.
A WRU spokesperson said: "The Competitions Committee and Community Game Board have taken a proactive approach to enabling National League fixture completion in the light of recent inclement weather and other factors disrupting the current league season. We want to ensure that all leagues are completed at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season to ensure to 2023-24 season structure can be implemented, a desire which we know our member clubs share. We have, therefore, suggested a series of adaptations to our rules and regulations to enable this outcome. These adaptations include the ability for sides to play with reduced numbers, where both parties agree, in order to complete fixtures; guidance on how this can work with as few as 12 players a side and a fair system for distribution of points where a fixture cannot be completed."
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