BBC Wales has announced it is to continue showing live rugby on Friday nights - having secured the rights to the Principality Premiership.
Earlier this year the BBC was dealt a blow when it lost the rights to the Pro 14 competition which features Wales' top professional teams the Cardiff Blues and Llanelli Scarlets as well as Swansea side Ospreys and the Newport-based Dragons.
But the broadcaster has now secured rights to the Welsh Premiership which features clubs including Llandovery, Ebbw Vale and Merthyr RFC as well as traditional powers Cardiff, Newport and Neath.
Former Wales wing Mark Jones, from Builth Wells, is also the coach of one of the league’s emerging powers the Colwyn Bay-based Rugby Gogledd Cymru known as RGC.
The new deal will let fans follow the league on free-to-air television throughout the season with games broadcast on Friday nights in HD on BBC Two Wales.
This season is set to be the most exciting yet, as 16 teams will be reduced to 12 by the end of the 2018-19 term. There is certain to be a significant amount of jeopardy and rivalry among the sides vying to top the league.
Premiership rugby has a significant following in Wales with historic rivalries and local derbies the order of the day and the league splits into a championship and relegation conference intended to keep all matches meaningful until the end of the season.
Live Premiership rugby games will be broadcast regularly on BBC Wales on Friday nights, as well as festive derby matches on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Its rugby magazine programme Scrum V will continue to be broadcast regularly on Sunday evenings.
The first game broadcast will be Ebbw Vale v Aberavon on September 7.
Head of sport at BBC Cymru Wales Geoff Williams said: "Friday night rugby on the BBC has been a staple part of the sporting diet in Wales for many years, and armchair rugby fans will be delighted to see it continue. By securing these rights, fans will be able to continue to watch free-to-air rugby every week on BBC Cymru Wales as well the Scrum V highlights programme on Sunday evenings.
“The revamped Premiership will be an exciting competition that’s rooted in communities across Wales, and it has a strong following amongst rugby fans. This season, there is certain to be a significant amount of jeopardy and rivalry among the sides vying to top the league and BBC Wales will be there to bring our audiences all the drama from the touchline.”
Welsh Rugby Union head of performance, Geraint John, said: “This a great opportunity for all of the Premiership clubs to demonstrate their quality at the top end of club rugby in Wales.
“Collectively there is a great history running through the clubs and with a lot of young aspiring players stepping up to the top end of club rugby where they will meet players who have already established themselves in the game, the chance to play in front of a new televised audience is an exciting prospect for all concerned."
S4C has the rights to broadcast some games featuring Wales’ top level professional sides in the Pro 14 though the main rights are held by subscription service Premier Sports.