Farewell to two of Wales’ higher level cup competitions!

Two cup competitions involving clubs at the higher end of the Welsh football pyramid are to be scrapped.

The Nathaniel MG Cup (or the Cymru League Cup) and the Welsh Blood Service League Cup (or the Cymru North and South League Cup) will be taken off the menu for the 2026-27 season.

The Nathaniel MG Cup was established in 1992 and is considered to be the second-most important domestic cup competition for Welsh football clubs, after the older and more prestigious Welsh Cup.

Unlike the Welsh Cup, the competition is only open to the members of the Cymru Premier, the Cymru North, Cymru South and a very select few other clubs.

The New Saints have won it the most times (11), while the most successful North Wales club in the competition’s 34-year history is Connah’s Quay Nomads (3 wins).

The WBS League Cup/Welsh Tier Two League Cup is played between the teams of the Cymru North and Cymru South.

The cup was founded in 2022 and has been known as the Welsh Blood Service League Cup for sponsorship reasons.

Until 2025 it had teams competing in a regionalised draw up to and including the “regional finals”, then a national final between the two regional winners. For 2025–26 it was changed so that the “regional finals” are removed and replaced by unregionalised semi-finals, with the national final then becoming the only final in the competition.

Airbus have won the national trophy twice, while Mold Alexandra and Barry Town United have lifted it once.

The FAW released the following statement today…..

“The Football Association of Wales can confirm that the Nathaniel MG Cup and Welsh Blood Service League Cup will be removed from the season calendar for 2026/27.

“This decision follows a period of significant research and aligns with feedback received during collaborative consultation with clubs.

“As the Cymru Premier expands to 16 clubs in 2026/27, the FAW’s strategic focus is on strengthening the league format, which brings with it an expanded fixture programme, increasing pressure on the calendar and the impacts associated to this.

“The FAW wishes to place on record its sincere gratitude to Nathaniel Cars and the Welsh Blood Service for their support of the competitions and both organisations will continue as valued partners of the association.

“The 2026/27 Cymru Leagues fixture calendar, set to be the most exciting yet with more jeopardy in tiers one and two, will be confirmed in the coming weeks as the relaunch of the leagues approaches.”