More than that, returning sponsors SWALEC will be backing a competition that has been enhanced and expanded to three tournaments for the new season.
There will be 236 teams entering the SWALEC Cup competition this season, but a possible journey to the Millennium Stadium won’t end with a first or second round defeat for those teams knocked-out in the early stages.
The 122 First and Second Round losers in the SWALEC Cup will be entered into the SWALEC Plate competition. The 58 first round losers in that competition will then get a final chance to reach the home of Welsh rugby via the SWALEC Bowl tournament.
The SWALEC Cup will kick-off on Saturday 27 September, with 92 teams from the SWALEC National Leagues Division 2 down to 5 and the Welsh Universities, drawn into 46 games. Round 1 is the first of nine steps to winning the top cup competition in the Welsh game.
The finals of all three tournaments will take place at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 9 May, with the other dates being:
SWALEC Cup
Round 1: 27 September
Round 2: 25 October
Round 3: 15 November (Division 1 clubs enter draw)
Round 4: 20 December (Premiership clubs enter draw)
Round 5: 24 January
Round 6: 21 February
Quarter-Finals: 28 March
Semi-Finals: 18 April
Final: 9 May – Millennium Stadium
SWALEC Plate
Round 1: 15 November
Round 2: 20 December
Round 3: 24 January
Round 4: 21 February
Quarter-Finals: 28 March
Semi-Finals: 18 April
Final: 9 May – Millennium Stadium
SWALEC Bowl
Round 1: 20 December
Round 2: 24 January
Round 3: 21 February
Quarter-Finals: 28 March
Semi-Finals: 18 April
Final: 9 May – Millennium Stadium
The draw for the first round of the SWALEC Cup saw 198 teams enter the hat. Three clubs who finished their league seasons highly placed in Two East and Two West have been handed ties in the opening round.
Mountain Ash just missed out on promotion after finishing third last season in Two East, one place above Tredegar, but both clubs will be in action as the SWALEC Cup returns to the rugby calendar.
Mountain Ash will entertain Skewen from Three South West, hoping that they can make even more progress than last season when they reached round three before being knocked out 29-24 by Premiership outfit Aberavon.
Tredegar will host Pontllanfraith, of Four East, and they also reached round three last year only to be edged out 16-14 in a nail-biter by Division One’s Caerphilly. Loughor finished third in Two West and they will be on their travels once again after playing all three rounds away last season. They will visit Pentyrch of Four South East and are another club looking to improve on last season’s cup showing when they lost to Premier side Cross Keys in round three.
Also included in the opening round will be Welsh Districts side Cardiff Medicals, drawn away to Bridgend Athletic, together with Aberystwyth University and UWIN.
SWALEC Cup Round 1 (Ties to be played 27 September, 2008)
Abercynon v Taibach,
Aberystwyth University v Bethesda,
Bettws (Newport) v Blaina,
Blaengarw v Caernarfon,
Brecon v Bangor,
Bridgend Athletic v Cardiff Medicals,
Cilfynydd v Cardigan,
Colwyn Bay v Laugharne
Cwmavon v Pontardawe,
Cwmtwrch v Pontycymmer,
Dinas Powys v Tenby,
Dowlais v Bridgend Sports,
Fleur de Lys v Cardiff HSOB,
Furnace v Taffs Well,
Glyncorrwg v Crymych,
Gorseinon v Llandaff,
Hirwaun v Abertillery BG,
Llandeilo v Welshpool,
Llantrisant v Abercrave,
Llanybydder v Pembroke Dock Quins,
Machen v Newcastle Emlyn,
Morriston v Ynysybwl,
Mountain Ash v Skewen,
Neath Athletic v Pwllheli,
Newtown v Gowerton,
New Tredegar v Dolgellau,
Neyland v Bedlinog,
Pembroke v South Wales Police,
Penarth v Baglan,
Pentyrch v Loughor,
Penygraig v Talywain,
Pontarddulais v Senghenydd,
Pontypool United v Tredegar Ironsides,
Pyle v Rhiwbina,
Rhydyfelin v Rhymney,
Rhyl v Nantyffyllon,
Seven Sisters v Tonyrefail,
St Peters v Ammanford,
Tonna v Llantwit Major,
Trebanos v Monmouth,
Tredegar v Pontllanfraith,
Treorchy v St Clears,
Trinant v Nantyglo,
Tylorstown v Denbigh,
UWIN v Caldicot,
Wrexham v Deri.
Byes into Round 2: Aberaeron, Aberavon Green Stars, Aberavon Quins, Abercarn, Abercwmboi, Aberdare, Abergavenny, Aberystwyth, Alltwen, Amman United, Bala, Banwen, Barry, Betws (Ammanford), Birchgrove, Blaenavon, BP Llandarcy, Briton Ferry, Brynamman, Bryncoch, Brynithel, Brynmawr, Builth Wells, Burry Port, Bynea, Canton, Cardiff University, Cefn Coed, Cefn Cribbwr, Cefneithen, Chepstow, Cowbridge, Croesyceiliog, Crumlin, Crynant, Cwmbran, Cwmgors, Cwmgwrach, Fairwater, Ferndale, Fishguard & Goodwick, Garndiffaith, Gilfach Goch, Glais, Glynneath, Gwernyfed, Haverfordwest, Hendy, Heol y Cyw, Kenfig Hill, Kidwelly, Lampeter Town, Llandaff North, Llandudno, Llandybie, Llanelli Wanderers, Llangefni, Llangwm, Llanhilleth, Llanidloes, Llanishen, Llantwit Fardre, Maesteg Celtic, Maesteg Harlequins, Milford Haven, Mold, Mumbles, Nant Conwy, Nantymoel, Nelson, New Dock Stars, Newport HSOB, Oakdale, Ogmore Vale, Old Illtydians, Old Penarthians, Penclawdd, Pencoed, Penygroes, Pill Harriers, Pontyates, Pontyberem, Pontyclun, Porth Quins, Porthcawl, Resolven, Rhigos, Risca, RTB Ebbw Vale, Ruthin, St Alban’s, St David’s, St Joseph’s, Swansea University, Swansea Uplands, Tondu, Treherbert, Trimsaran, Tumble, Tycroes. Usk, Vardre, Waunarlwydd, Ynysddu, Ystalyfera, Ystradgynlais.
