Top men’s and women’s league in Wales get the go-ahead to return – but not such good news for tier 2

The JD Cymru Premier League and Orchard Welsh Premier Women’s League have had their ‘Elite Status’ reinstated with immediate effect – but the news is not so good for the JD Cymru North and South.

The Football Association of Wales has been informed by the National Sport Group (NSG) that tier 1 leagues are now classed as ‘elite’ once more.

Although the country remains at Alert Level 4 of the Welsh Government Control Plan, clubs in the Cymru Premier and Welsh Women’s Premier leagues can prepare for the resumption of fixtures under the FAW’s strict Return to Play COVID-19 protocols.

At this current time, and taking into account the continuing public health crisis, JD Cymru North and JD Cymru South have not had their ‘Elite Status’ reinstated by the NSG whilst the country remains at Alert Level 4.

As a consequence, with the exemption of those clubs with professionals who cannot carry out their work from home, Tier 2 clubs are not permitted to return until the country either enters Alert Level 3 or the NSG grant ‘Elite Status’ to the leagues; whichever comes first.

The NSG includes representation from Sport Wales, Welsh Sports Association, Welsh Government and Commonwealth Games Wales to consider the ‘Elite Status’ designation.

Confirmation of the rescheduled fixtures for the JD Cymru Premier and the Orchard Welsh Premier Women’s League will be announced in due course on CymruFootball.Wales.

The FAW continues to encourage that everyone follows the Welsh Government guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19.