Abertillery became the 17th club to withdraw from the Principality Cup in Wales this season, when they declined to visit Aberavon in a fifth round tie on December 21.
They follow the example of fellow Division Two club Brynmawr in boycotting the Cup after a mess-up in the draw made by the Welsh Rugby Union last week.
Though Carmarthen Athletic, who had lost in Round Four, were firstly included and Cwmavon, who had won a seperate tie, were ommitted, the WRU refused to alter the draw.
Brynmawr withdrew from their match away to another Carmarthen club – the Quins – and Cwmavon intended to follow suit. But, though Cwmavon are now intending to play their match at Pontypool, Aberillery have dropped out.
Abertillery secretary Garth Collier stated: ‘We are following the line taken by Brynmawr and that the draw was unfair.’ His chairman, Martin Edwards, added: ‘We feel that there should have been a re-draw and that there is still time to do one.’
Oddly, the WRU have ordered Carmarthen Quins and Aberavon to meet in a previously-postponed league Division One match on December 18, but the clubs hope to move that to December 21 – the date they should have appeared in the Cup.