The Welsh Premiership will be replaced in the 2024-25 season by a “finishing school” for rising talent with the number of teams reduced from 13 to 10.
Existing Premiership clubs can each apply for a slot, with criteria for the Elite Domestic Competition (EDC) yet to be finalised.
North Wales will be represented by RGC with nine teams from south Wales. There is an intention to ensure a geographical spread of teams in the south based on the four regions – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets.
The Premiership, which kicks off on Saturday, will continue as a 13-team league this season and clubs will be able to apply to be a part of the new setup with a decision made on their inclusion expected at the end of 2023.
WRU performance director Huw Bevan said the aim of the new structure is to ensure “the players in the academy systems are getting consistent opportunities to play in a competitive environment”.
He added: “Ideally it'll be a 10-team league and based on an eligibility criteria that all the clubs will have to fulfil, we can manage eight teams but our strong preference would be for a 10-team competition.
“Once the clubs have submitted their expressions of interest, they will be submitted with a club pack that will outline terms and conditions, basic eligibility criteria and the criteria by which each club will be evaluated.”
Wales men's U20s lost every game in the Six Nations and the WRU hopes the changes will help academy and age-grade players.
WRU executive director of rugby Nigel Walker said: “What we can't afford is for any graduate of the U20 team to be warming the bench for 25 games a season, playing 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there.
“We're not France, we're not England, we don't have 20 players for each position, we've got to make sure this is the finishing school for our very best players.
“Some players will go straight to regional, but a number of them will need a season or two at semipro level, and we've got to ensure they get sufficient games to develop.”
