THE Principality Premiership has followed the lead of the Magners League by introducing an end-of-season grand final to decide the champions.

The controversial play-off system, introduced last season, remains, but in a slimmed-down format with only the top three clubs involved — second and third will play each other for the right to face the top-placed club in the final.

This season, the top five finishers will automatically qualify for the British and Irish Cup, with the clubs who finish in sixth to eighth playing off for the final spot.

There will also be a play-off structure for relegation, with the bottom-placed side going into a draw with the winners of division one east, west and north or North Wales side RGC 1404 — but it is all subject to clubs meeting the Welsh Rugby Union's strict criteria by the end of January 2011.