Editing Cardiff RFC (section)

====Rebel season====
{{Main|1998–99 rebel season}}
Cardiff and Swansea had proposed the formation of a British league, containing the top division English clubs, the two Scottish regional sides (Edinburgh and Glasgow) and four Welsh clubs (seeing as Cardiff had got further than any other Welsh club in every Heineken Cup so far, Swansea were the league champions and they represented the two largest urban areas in Wales, it was assumed two of these clubs would be Cardiff and Swansea).

Both the RFU and the English clubs had agreed to this, but the WRU refused due to an ongoing legal battle with the English clubs over the negotiation of commercial rights (which would lead to the English clubs not participating in the 1998–99 Heineken Cup). Instead, the WRU demanded all top-flight clubs sign 10-year loyalty agreements, where they were guaranteed top-flight status and committed themselves to staying within the Welsh league structure.

Cardiff and Swansea refused to sign these agreements and were expelled from the Welsh Premier Division. The Allied Dunbar Premiership (the English league) teams announced that two teams would have a rest weekend every week allowing them to play friendlies against Cardiff and Swansea. Cardiff's first home match of the season was against Saracens, who'd finished second in the Allied Dunbar Premiership the season before. Cardiff won 40–19 in front of a crowd of 10,021, larger than the entire combined attendance of the Welsh Premier Division that weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-cardiffs-followers-vote-with-their-feet-1198162.html|title=Rugby Union: Cardiff's followers vote with their feet|date=14 September 1998|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415053937/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-cardiffs-followers-vote-with-their-feet-1198162.html|archive-date=15 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The club went on to win all their home games, but fell to defeat ten times on their travels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiffrfcfans.co.uk/fixtures.php?seasonID=1|title=CRFC Fans - 1998-1999|website=Cardiffrfcfans.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425152405/http://www.cardiffrfcfans.co.uk/fixtures.php?seasonID=1|archive-date=25 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Although Cardiff and Swansea were both expelled from the Welsh League, they were allowed to continue to compete in the SWALEC Cup against Welsh opposition. Both teams reached the semi-finals, Swansea were to play Cross Keys and Cardiff Llanelli. In the week prior to the game, Cardiff chairman Peter Thomas spoke to the players following a training session, where he emphasised the importance of winning the game, describing it as "the biggest game in the club's history". Cardiff lost 39–10 in a match chief executive Gareth Davies described "The worst performance by a Cardiff side I have ever seen." Six days later, it was announced Terry Holmes would stand down as coach at the end of the season, and Pontypridd and Wales assistant coach Lyn Howells would take charge on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-cardiff-count-cost-of-rebellion-1089528.html|title=Rugby Union: Cardiff count cost of rebellion|date=25 April 1999|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415104022/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-cardiff-count-cost-of-rebellion-1089528.html|archive-date=15 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Swansea went on to beat Llanelli 37–10 in the cup final, but the rebels were still forced to sign loyalty agreements and return to Welsh domestic setup, now including Edinburgh and Glasgow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_union/364095.stm|title=BBC News - Rugby Union - Rebel Welsh clubs back in fold|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018}}</ref>