Automatic promotion and relegation is back on the table in the Principality Premiership next season for the first time in four years.
The second tier of Welsh rugby has been ring-fenced since its expansion to 16 clubs in the 2015-16 campaign when Merthyr, RGC 1404, Swansea and Bargoed were promoted from the WRU Championship to join the likes of Cardiff, Newport, Llanelli and Pontypridd.
It's meant despite winning the Championship for the last three seasons, Pontypool have been denied their place at the top table of Welsh club rugby.
And the former giants of Welsh rugby couldn't capitalise on a WRU lifeline offered them last month when losing a
But with the planned three-year ring-fencing of the Premiership now coming down following the relegation of Bargoed, Cross Keys, Bedwas and Neath making it a 12-club top division, it was still unsure whether a play-off would remain in situ next season for the Championship winners.
The play-off was hugely controversial and prompted plenty of social media chatter claiming Pooler should have been given automatic promotion.
But the club claim they've now been told by Welsh rugby chiefs promotion is returning next season.
"This evening we received confirmation from the Welsh Rugby Union that automatic promotion will be applied to the WRU National Championship for the 2019-2020 season," said a Pontypool tweet.
"The league champions will replace the side that finishes bottom of the Principality Premiership.
"Any possible promotion to the Premiership is subject to the WRU National Championship champions holding the required A licence."
The downside for Pooler in all this is that the Championship is set to be the most competitive since Merthyr, Bargoed, RGC and Swansea left for the Premiership back in the summer of 2016.
Bargoed have kept core of their Premiership squad from last season and added Ebbw Vale skipper Ronny Kynes to their ranks while Neath are also rebuilding after the traumas of their 2018-19 campaign.
Bedwas and Keys will also be no pushovers while Glamorgan Wanderers and Ystalyfera are the new boys from winning their Division One play-offs.
