WRU Challenge Cup

The WRU Challenge Cup (currently known as the Konica Minolta Cup due to sponsorship), or its full name of the Welsh Rugby Union Challenge Cup, is Wales' premier knockout rugby union competition and is organised by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

On 26 February 2007, the WRU agreed a new GB£1 million three-year sponsorship deal with SWALEC, who had previously sponsored the event from the 1992/3 season until the 1998/9 season; the Cup will again become the SWALEC Cup.cite web |url= http://www.wru.co.uk/1391_17075.php|publisher= Welsh Rugby Union Limited|title= SWALEC becomes new power behind Welsh rugby|accessdate=2008-05-07] The SWALEC Cup will be a three tier competition with Cup, Trophy and Bowl winners. The SWALEC Bowl will be competed for by clubs who have been knocked out of the SWALEC Cup in the earlier rounds, while the SWALEC Plate will be competed for by clubs who have progress further in the Cup.

The current champions are Neath RFC who defeated Pontypridd 28-22 at the Millennium Stadium on the 17th May 2008.

Past winners

WRU Challenge Cup

1972: Neath 15–9 Llanellicite web |url= http://www.wru.co.uk/86_641.php|publisher= Welsh Rugby Union Limited|title= Konica Minolta Cup: A Brief History|accessdate=2008-05-07]

1973: Llanelli 30–7 Cardiff

1974: Llanelli 12–10 Aberavon

1975: Llanelli 15–6 Aberavon

1976: Llanelli 16–4 Swansea

Schweppes Cup

1977: Newport 16–15 Cardiff

1978: Swansea 13–9 Newport

1979: Bridgend 18–12 Pontypridd

1980: Bridgend 15–9 Swansea

1981: Cardiff 14–6 Bridgend

1982: Cardiff 12–12 Bridgend (Cardiff won on try count)

1983: Pontypool 18–6 Swansea

1984: Cardiff 24–19 Neath

1985: Llanelli 15–14 Cardiff

1986: Cardiff 28–21 Newport

1987: Cardiff 16–15 Swansea (after extra time)

1988: Llanelli 28–13 Neath

1989: Neath 14–13 Llanelli

1990: Neath 16–10 Bridgend

1991: Llanelli 24–9 Pontypool

1992: Llanelli 16–7 Swansea

SWALEC Cup

1993: Llanelli 21–18 Neath

1994: Cardiff 15–8 Llanelli

1995: Swansea 17–12 Pontypridd

1996: Pontypridd 29–22 Neath

1997: Cardiff 33–26 Swansea

1998: Llanelli 19–12 Ebbw Vale

1999: Swansea 37–10 Llanelli

WRU Challenge Cup

2000: Llanelli 22–12 Swansea

Principality Cup

2001: Newport 13–8 Neath

2002: Pontypridd 20–17 Llanelli

2003: Llanelli 32–9 Newport

Konica Minolta Cup

2004: Neath 36–13 Caerphilly

2005: Llanelli 25–24 Pontypridd

2006: Pontypridd 26–25 Neath

2007: Llandovery 20–18 Cardiff

2008: Neath 28–22 Pontypridd

Total wins by club

Llanelli (13 times)

Cardiff (7 times)

Neath (5 times)

Pontypridd (3 times)

Swansea (3 times)

Bridgend (twice)

Newport (twice)

Pontypool (once)

Llandovery (once)

Venues for the final

* Cardiff Arms Park - 1972 to 1997
* Ashton Gate - 1998
* Ninian Park - 1999
* Millennium Stadium - 2000 to date

ee also

* Welsh Premier Division
* Welsh Rugby Union
* Rugby union in Wales
* Konica Minolta

Notes

External links

* [http://www.wru.co.uk/86_641.php Konica Minolta Cup: A Brief History] WRU site