South Wales will launch a new league this summer designed to bridge the gap between club and county cricket.

The new Swalec Premier Cricket League combines top clubs from the Glamorgan & Monmouthshire Cricket League and the South Wales Cricket Association.

Ammanford, Cardiff, Newport, Port Talbot Town, Pontarddulais, St Fagans, Sully Centurions, Swansea, Usk and Ynysygerwn are the teams involved.

The first matches are on 1 May, with a Twenty20 competition also scheduled.

The final of the Twenty20 competition will be held at the Swalec Stadium on 1 August, with the winner going on to represent the Swalec Premier Cricket League in the national Cockspur Rum Club Twenty20 Competition.

The last round of matches in the main league competition will take place on the weekend of 28 August, with the bottom two clubs at the end of the season relegated and will return to their relevant feeder league.

It is vital to the future success of Glamorgan cricket that we have this layer of competition in place Glamorgan director of cricket Matthew Maynard

Likewise, the two champion clubs from the feeder leagues will be invited to play in the Swalec Premier Cricket League in the following season, provided they meet the strict entry criteria for facilities.

While the league will expose up-and-coming cricketers to a higher level of competition, it is also expected to give playing opportunities to Glamorgan players not involved in county games.

Glamorgan director of cricket Matthew Maynard backed the launch of the new league.

"The Swalec Premier Cricket League is a welcome addition to the cricket calendar and will benefit all levels of the game," Maynard said.

"The competition provides the top layer for club cricket in the region and we know that club cricketers will aspire to play at League level.

"It'll provide an environment for players to develop and to be identified if they perform well.

"It is vital to the future success of Glamorgan cricket that we have this layer of competition in place."

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