Welsh Rugby Bosses to Scrap One Region by 2027

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

I was listening to some guy on wireless earlier who was saying the WRU can’t afford to fund four clubs.
Why the fuck aren’t they funding themselves?
Imagine one of the four Welsh clubs in the Football League having to go because the FAW could afford it.
What a load of bollox.

With the exception of some benefactors in France & England, international rugby/the unions fund the club game the world over.

Wales aren’t unique in this, however, there’s been mismanagement at all levels (papered over by 6 Nations success) ever since the regions were formed.

A constant cycle of decisions made to try and please everyone which end up satisfying nobody which leads to constant ‘crisis’ talk.

 

[Smurph]

Absolutely.

And if they can't, then it's time to go back to being semi-pro or even amateur again.

If clubs funded themselves they wouldn't have to dance to the tune of their pay masters either.

Don't know a great deal about club rugby, it would appear as if the clubs want their cake and eating it at the same time?

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

If clubs funded themselves they wouldn't have to dance to the tune of their pay masters either.

Don't know a great deal about club rugby, it would appear as if the clubs want their cake and eating it at the same time?

I just think a lot of them are in denial about where they are as a sport.

I read a in depth piece in a broadsheet about 5 or 6 years ago about one of the valleys clubs - think it might have been Maesteg or Ebbw Vale, something like that - and the head coach was bemoaning the fact he couldn't even get players to turn up on a Saturday. He even had to bribe one of them with a Chinese and a few pints after the game.

That doesn't speak to me about a sport with healthy grass roots.

 

[Smurph]

I just think a lot of them are in denial about where they are as a sport.

I read a in depth piece in a broadsheet about 5 or 6 years ago about one of the valleys clubs - think it might have been Maesteg or Ebbw Vale, something like that - and the head coach was bemoaning the fact he couldn't even get players to turn up on a Saturday. He even had to bribe one of them with a Chinese and a few pints after the game.

That doesn't speak to me about a sport with healthy grass roots.

That's shocking, bribing someone to play a game they're supposed to enjoy.

I'd do anything to turn the clock back to play football on the weekends again.

 

[cmajack]

That's shocking, bribing someone to play a game they're supposed to enjoy.

I'd do anything to turn the clock back to play football on the weekends again.

Yes, but you could pretend you didn't want to play, and then get a Chinese and a few pints for your troubles. Win, Win .

 

[Smurph]

Yes, but you could pretend you didn't want to play, and then get a Chinese and a few pints for your troubles. Win, Win .

Good thinking Batman

 

[monmouth]

‘WRU vanity projects’ was a term I used to hear, although I’m not quite sure what exactly this means. My curiosity in this means that I will go and have a further read.

They bought a hotel in Cardiff and built white elephant zip wire and roof walks instead of investing their CVC windfall in rugby. Their objective since the arsehole Lewis came in was to starve the professional game below team Wales and keep all control and money with the union gravy train. We are now reaping the whirlwind and they want even more control. As to ‘funding’ all tv and tournament income goes to the WRU.

It is completely different to football in that internationals are the revenue generators, but someone needs to produce the players…

 

[rockinj]

Surely the obvious route is an school first division with the whites etc and two “regions” west and east.

 

[Cooperman]

Surely the obvious route is an school first division with the whites etc and two “regions” west and east.

Who are the etc?

East or West versus Aberavon/Carmarthen Quins/Bridgend isn’t going to do much for the game.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Tell you what should be scrapped, the WRU.

 

[monmouth]

Surely the obvious route is a school first division with the whites etc and two “regions” west and east.

I think that was the WRU executives preferred approach. Basically WRU A and WRU B, all players in one ‘hub’ paid allocated and controlled by WRU. Then they realised nobody would watch it, the (Cardiff heavy) Board wouldn’t agree it and so they shit out, and went for a compromise of three with the WRU controlling the rugby side, and still presumably allocating players. The Board is happy as Cardiff looks to be protected, and they’ve stiffed the Swansea based team, leaving the long term shiheap of Newport intact. My bet is the three teams are called Dragons, Cardiff and Scarlets.

It makes no odds anyway. They are still in the URC and our best players will go to England and France. We will end up semi pro and Argentine model at some point so that WRU can control everything and spend all their money on perks and privilege. They are the worst governing body in sporting history. If in doubt, read Seimon Williams excellent chronicle. And they’ve arguably got worse since he wrote it!

 

[monmouth]

Tell you what should be scrapped, the WRU.

Yes needs to be burned down, but they’ll hardly do that to themselves. Sponsors and the Banks might force some change when the loans can’t be refinanced. They are already giving away tickets for the Autumn games and the six nations is now dependent on theatre going arseholes, stag parties or slag parties, and opposition supporters. The 1999 debenture holders are not renewing and need repaid. The golden goose is on its last legs. Prognosis is not good.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Yes needs to be burned down, but they’ll hardly do that to themselves. Sponsors and the Banks might force some change when the loans can’t be refinanced. They are already giving away tickets for the Autumn games and the six nations is now dependent on theatre going arseholes, stag parties or slag parties, and opposition supporters. The 1999 debenture holders are not renewing and need repaid. The golden goose is on its last legs. Prognosis is not good.

Basically Welsh rugby is about to be on par with Georgia and Romania within the next five years. A National disgrace. Land Of My Farthers ...

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

Surely the obvious route is a school first division with the whites etc and two “regions” west and east.

Personally I think that’s what should have happened when it first went professional.

Centrally contract the top 80 players, play home games Friday night/Saturday evening/Sunday afternoon and you’re not even competing with the club game still being played on a Saturday afternoon. During international breaks those not playing for Wales can drop down to play for their local clubs which increases the interest and link to the two regions.

I think the ship has well and truly sailed though with Llanelli & Cardiff (and latterly Newport) being pretty much standalone regions from the word go. Coupled with Neath & Pontypridd not wanting to join the Super Rygbi Cymru (semi-pro tier) then the whole structure is a mess.

They’ll just muddle through for the next few years whether they go down to 3 or not and hope that they get a handful of world class players coming through who raise the standard of the national team.

 

[Londonlisa2001]

I think that was the WRU executives preferred approach. Basically WRU A and WRU B, all players in one ‘hub’ paid allocated and controlled by WRU. Then they realised nobody would watch it, the (Cardiff heavy) Board wouldn’t agree it and so they shit out, and went for a compromise of three with the WRU controlling the rugby side, and still presumably allocating players. The Board is happy as Cardiff looks to be protected, and they’ve stiffed the Swansea based team, leaving the long term shiheap of Newport intact. My bet is the three teams are called Dragons, Cardiff and Scarlets.

It makes no odds anyway. They are still in the URC and our best players will go to England and France. We will end up semi pro and Argentine model at some point so that WRU can control everything and spend all their money on perks and privilege. They are the worst governing body in sporting history. If in doubt, read Seimon Williams excellent chronicle. And they’ve arguably got worse since he wrote it!

“They are the worst governing body in sporting history.”

Honourable mention to the WFA.

There is something about Welsh committees which is just so bloody dreadful.

We’ve recently had the two world cups for women and in both, the Welsh teams were playing catch up having been historically utterly let down by a bunch of misogynistic old farts with club blazers and 1970s sensibilities.