The season is over and all competition and individual winners have been laid bare, so it’s time to grade the season for every Indigo Group Premiership team. Let us know if you agree or not with our choices and check out the end-of-season award winners.
Aberavon – C
Pretty much a pass, but they’ll be disappointed not to secure a top grade by finishing poorly despite gaining a maximum of 30 points in their opening six rounds. They have plenty to build on though and a good squad to give next season a better shot.
Bridgend Ravens – C
Despite finishing a couple of places lower than Aberavon, the Ravens may actually be feeling a lot more positive. Their run of form in 2023 was sublime and their home form was even better. If they can hold this level of performance over a full season then they’ll be silverware contenders next time round.
Cardiff – A
They took away the cup and topped the table by six points, but fell comfortably short in the Indigo Group Premiership play-off against Llandovery. If they’d have won the double it would have been a perfect season for Steve Law’s men, but it falls half a mark shy due to their final loss.
Carmarthen Quins – D
Another slow starter who gradually got better, albeit not to the same level as Bridgend. Not a disastrous season, although they crashed out of the cup losing comfortably to both RGC and Ebbw Vale. Something to build on if all key players stay fit next season.
Ebbw Vale – B
Missed the playoffs and fell a win short over a cup semi-final, however, Jason Strange’s men will be extremely upbeat given they finished 11th last time round and were still in contention for a playoff spot right up until Llanelli folded and Newport claimed five points in the penultimate round of fixtures.
Llandovery – A+
A second-place finish after the regular season ended would have been a proud achievement for the Drovers, but they decided to go one better and lift their first-ever Premiership title by beating Cardiff in the capital. Could have been topped by a double, not that anyone in red and white cares right now.
Llanelli – U
A miserable season for the club that saw them fold due to playing number shortages, and they won’t participate in the next season. A true sign of awful club mismanagement and a dire position for such a historically esteemed club to sit in. Some great individual performances from the likes of Nathan Hart and Iwan Shenton are the only brightness in a dark season.
Merthyr – B
The Ironmen started slower than they’d have liked, but gradually picked up momentum as their fixtures rolled in. A late-season double over Ebbw Vale secured their play-off spot, which ended short against the eventual champions at Church Bank, although they did require two permit props due to injuries. A good season and they have built nicely with their transfers.
Newport – B+
Another season and another cup final, albeit this time saw the Black and Amber’s come out on the wrong end of the result. A weak start, losing their opening four games saw them require an impressive win streak of nine Premiership games unbeaten to claim a play-off spot, which sadly saw them miss crucial kicks that could have kept Cardiff close.
Pontypridd – F
Despite a strong squad and a solid position to build on last season, finishing 10th was a massive underachievement for Ponty. A cup semi-final gave them some hope, but Newport slayed those dreams of rescuing a difficult season. Some ex-professional names coming back to the squad next season will give the Sardis faithful plenty to think about over the summer.
RGC – E
Arguably the most improved side during the 2021/22 season, Ceri Jones’ men took a backwards step this season that saw them reach the semi-finals of the cup, but also become an inconsistent side in the league, killing off their hopes of a playoff spot far too early.
Swansea – E
A side full of talent and aided by Ospreys’ and Wales U20s performed extremely poorly given their calibre on paper. 11th in the league, only propped up by Llanelli. Their 150th season didn’t have much to celebrate, but they ended with a fantastic outing against the Barbarians and have added nicely to their squad ahead of the 2023/24 Indigo Group Premiership season.
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