WRU chief executive Roger Lewis has hinted that Welsh rugby might be cut from four to three sides as the country looks to stop a recent player exodus.
The departures of Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins and Luke Charteris and future exits of Dan Lydiate and Jamie Roberts are a real cause for concern.
Financially the Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Dragons and Ospreys have been behind their Top 14 rivals in terms of spending power, which recently has brought growing concern over whether they can keep hold of their stars. And Lewis is apparently looking at different proposals to halt the drain.
"The minimum to me must be three teams," Lewis revealed to the Sunday Times. "Two is far too few and four is preferable."
It would be likely that the Dragons are many peoples' and pundits' choice as first on the list after being the basement Welsh region in the previous seven seasons in the Celtic League.
Lewis continued: "The Welsh Rugby Union has to take a far greater responsibility and therefore control over professional rugby within Wales."
"This is no criticism of the regions; this is merely my view. A successful Wales playing at the Millennium Stadium drives rugby."
Comments
jontheref says...
cero,
are you milkslave's alter ego?
Please translate
"laugh away while you sink us"
you have seriously lost me, as I don't think the state of Welsh Rugby is a joking matter, or use stupid inane comments to supposedly make a point.
can you explain?
Posted 17:31 04th January 2013
jontheref says...
melkdave,
Seriously, get hold of a map, with populations on it, and then look at what you are saying.
You said, Mid Wales, now suddenly, you have the valleys.
Not exactly consistent with your thOught process are you?
The Ravens are the Bridgend premier team.
The Warriors were the Regional team, that, Yes, did go bankrupt, 6 or 7 years ago. May be longer.
As to the WRU following your plan, even at their most inept, there is no chance of that!
Want another bet on it?
We can go double or quits on the last one, when you "selected" the Welsh backrow for the Autumn tests!
Posted 17:29 04th January 2013
melkdave says...
PS
Almost forgot ,why should Ospreys and Scarlets become one ,because they arnt strong enough alone ,to win a HC or consistently challange the irish clubs dominance of the Pro12 which is their after thought ,after the HC.And where to base a mid Wales team ,how about between Pontypridd/Pontypool -Ebbw Vale and LLandovey area,encomprsing the valleys ect.
Posted 16:00 02nd January 2013
melkdave says...
@Jontheref
LOL sorry m8 i was 10 miles out on the distance between Cardiff and Swansea,but IIRC wasnt there a region based at Bridgend The Ravans in that area,and it closed because of lack of money and fanbase??,Which rather proves my point i think LOL.Anyway i feel that eventually the WRU will have no option but to go dwn the path ive outlined or something similar.Hope you had a great Xmas and New Year ,and heres hoping Wales have a good 2013,though not as good as Englands LOLOL
Posted 15:55 02nd January 2013
Sincero says...
laugh away while you sink us, mongthrref
Posted 03:07 02nd January 2013
jontheref says...
cero back on his meds, and almost making sense.
Happy New Year!
Posted 02:52 01st January 2013
Sincero says...
Agree 100% with Ponty there. That's why I'm so livid. And I would add wendyball is already in prime position in Wales- attendances and t.v. spectators show that. Now it's up to you to sort it out. If you pack it in, as one of only two Unions where rugby was paramount, then it does hurt the game worldwide, and especially the 4 unions in the Celtic/Pro 12. The league needs strong Welsh sides competing throughout or it will become obsolete. What it doesn't need is your regions playing to empty houses. It's so depressing... Who wants to see that? You're damning us all through apathy. I'd be thrilled if you had the packed houses you should have and were competing consistently for the play-offs... you get better, we get better. As it stands, Wales, the Pro 12 and the whole shooting match is heading for disaster. Why are you not fixing this, FFS?? Why aren't you angry? Panicked? Do something about it, please!
Posted 16:32 31st December 2012
jontheref says...
melkdave
Good to see you have suggestions, even if you have a total lack of geography and population spread.
Nearest points of cardiff and Swansea is in excess of 40 miles.
A mid Wales team, where would you base it?
Where would the crowds come from?
Mid Wales is sheep and mountains, I used to cover it for my company, and it is literally miles of space, and very few people.
Combining Ospreys and Scarlets is a non starter, and why would you?
Both are the two top Welsh regions, and whilst logistically you could find a case for combining Dragons and Blues, I can't see that working either.
Three regions, plus a development one, some sort of central funding, (I agree with you on that one), if it can be done, as the clubs "own" the players.
North Wales, base a Premier team there, build the fan base, and eventually let it compete with the others, and maybe take the role of the development region.
Most of all, joined up Marketing!
WRU doesn't have it, regions don't have it, they try to use marketing speak via their RDO's etc., but as for letting the junior clubs have access to players, it is so long winded to get them, most give up.
I've received so called "communication" from the WRU and the region, in my club role, and after having it translated, (and I don't mean from Welsh!), it is so convoluted, I wonder anyone understands it.
Rant over, Market the games.
Free kids tickets would be a start.
Posted 13:52 31st December 2012
Pontypridd49 says...
The Ospreys are the only true region incorporating Neath and Swansea, as result this region on the whole works. Decent crowds and a good record in the Pro12 and always a challenge for any team in the HC ( just ask Toulouse ). Blues, Scarlets and Dragons are just super clubs, the real rugby supporters in Pontypridd, Bridgend, Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Crosskeys, Rhondda etc are never going to support clubs they where once great rivals with. Unlike the Irish we never had provinces/regions we had Rugby Clubs that covered counties. The system was doomed to fail. Only option in my opinion is to go down East, West, Mid and North and hope that works. Traditionally it's always been East Vs West ( can't see Scarlets and Ospreys combining though. Super clubs haven't worked. More watched Pontypridd play Leeds in the British and Irish Cup then watched the Dragons Vs Zebra there lies the problem. Our National team success up until now has been hiding the obvious. Unless this is sorted with the success of Cardiff City and the Swans in the premier league Rugby is in real danger of becoming our second sport which will a hurt Rugby in the global game. Northern Hemisphere Rugby will then become France Vs England, because without the Welsh who do the Irish compete with in the Pro 12 ? Celtic countries need each other no matter what Sincero says !!!!
Posted 15:43 30th December 2012
melkdave says...
After a couple of days consideration,and reading the posts on this thread.It looks fairly clear that the WRU are going to try the irish model.But without central contracts,for the top players.So just how they expect players to still stay in Wales is stll going to be a problem imo.It was this point that was vital in allowing the irish sides to keep their star players ,with them getting a good wage from the IRFU and it being toped up by the province ..Its no wonder that no big irish players have gone aboard,as they earn about the same as in France ect already..I also still feel that the regions are to close together,with only 10-15 miles between Newport and Cardiff,and about the same distance between Ospreys and Scarlets ,they are still fighting over the same fan base,also having just 20-30 miles between Cardiff and Swansea doesnt help either.I think combing the 1st teams of Ospreys and Scarlets into a new regional team ,and doing the same with Newport-Cardiff,would be a better option long term,Espically if the other players from the present regional teams went to other new clubs one in mid Wales the other north Wales,Then you could have a simlar model as Ireland with a feeder team and 2 much improved teams able to consistenty challange the Leinster/Munster and now Ulster dominace of the Pro12.,and maybe even win the HC.I also think the new teams shouldnt really have a home stadium at first ,but play their games between the clubs in their regionie one week Parc du Scarlets ,next week Liberty,following week at Neath ect,same for the western region,so it builds up support from its regional feeder clubs supporters.These are just ideas ,and tbh ,i dont think any of them will happen .But its how i see rugby in Wales being given a new lease of life ,and bringing success /silverware to Wales ,thats been sadly lacking ,and oe major reason fans are going to Pro12 matches
Posted 12:37 29th December 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
Will this strengthen or weaken the Celtic position in the present ERC wrangling over the Heineken cup?
Posted 11:21 28th December 2012
Sincero says...
I don't get it, rico, mate- recession this and that- I follow my club, my province and my country. The first two are major value for money, but sadly the latter has gone to the dogs with poor management from the I.R.F.U. and terrible coaches. So now, recession and all, if I make a choice to neglect one it's the Ireland matches (I see it as a protest over the ticket scheme and the awful coaches and policies).
Posted 14:43 27th December 2012
Sincero says...
Over the past 10 years paying club members have nearly doubled in France, as soccer numbers have declined. The international team has seen higher viewership than the wendyball one. Club? 'Significantly, in some large cities that are home to top teams in both sports, rugby matches are now better-attended than soccer. Three-time European champion Stade Toulousain has welcomed more paying fans to matches than Toulouse Football Club for the past five straight seasons, and this year Paris rugby club Stade Français' 34,722 per-match average bettered violence-marred Paris Saint-Germain's 33,522. Elsewhere, rugby teams are moving their games into nearby pro soccer stadiums to accommodate more fans. Biarritz Olympique even crosses the border, hosting big matches at the 32,000-seat Estadio Anoeta of Spanish soccer team Real Sociedad.' Lads, I know reading can be difficult for you, as centuries of limiting the gene pool there means you now have eyes that touch each other like Stephen Jones, but do try and focus on reading occasional words.
Posted 13:36 27th December 2012
jontheref says...
startledwombat.
Rugby and football is played i the schools, along with many other sports.
Many schools, if near water also offer sailing.
Boys and girls have many choices.
There is no coordination between the WRU schools and regions.
They think they have a plan inplace, but being at grassroots, it doesn't appear so to us!
Dragons to become a development, and fund the others with top 2 getting slightly more, is what he seems to be saying, and would give some incentive.
Have to wait and see it the new board agree, or is Lewis speaking out of turn.
Posted 10:23 27th December 2012
rico says...
think we should be looking to go the other way and up to 5 (North Wales region) to expand the pool of players - what's wrong with players playing overseas ananyway, good experience, S.Jones came back a better player after Clermont. Fans - low attendances are massive issue now a financially incentivised game - and no excuses there apart from recession/club loyalty/poor playing programme (ie don't think Dragons had a home game for some 5 weeks last year) and Welsh public being bled dry by extensive International/Touring Wales fixture list - ie most fans can't afford to follow Wales and then a region on top of that so follow Wales and then just go down the local club for a couple of quid....sincero i think you've got to realise there are many differences between different countries and that may account for low attandances, not any lack of passion or interest in the game. maybe if you have 5 regional home game stubs you get 1st dibs on NZ autumn international....
Posted 09:41 27th December 2012
Billybob says...
@Sincero Where do some people get their information from, the league 1 in france for soccer has an averages attendance of 18,869 with 7,170,333 the total number of people in attendance the Top 14 attendance is 13,269 with a total of 2,414,519 in attendance of the whole season. So fact show that France is also a football nation. Clown
Posted 19:54 26th December 2012
jontheref says...
sincero, as it is Christmas, and good will to all men, I'll respond.
Once again, you make sdtatements without backing them up.
Gowakes put up some information, but once again, you make vague assertions, with no proof or stats to prove it.
Shows how lazy you are.
As for your recent rant, I hope you get better in the new year, as it cannot be nice to have such a negative view of people you don't even know.
Love and pecae, go forth and prosper!
Posted 11:17 26th December 2012
startledwombat says...
Is rugby played in the schools in Wales? Are there more kids playing rugby than soccer in the schools? Do mums want their kids to play rugby or soccer?
Posted 09:41 26th December 2012
melkdave says...
Personnally i hate seeing any club fold,and i really cant belive the WRU has let welsh rugby get into such a state,I would rather see central contracts ,even if its only paying half the players wages.Once a region goes its very difficult to reserect it,that was the plan in Scotland and we are still waiting for the Borders to be reborn.SAD SAD day for rugby imo.
Posted 02:28 26th December 2012
Sincero says...
@jontheref, suck my baubles, fellow. Look it up. Gates and t.v.. France is a rugby nation in that sense, despite having a fully professional French samanthaball league with lots of dosh in it- the French now pay in more to watch rugby in the grounds than soccer, and watch more rugby on the telly than soccer... AND they're a serious nation. You're now a pseudo-country of pseudo-rugby folk sitting in England, being unable to sing anymore, munching take-aways and watching the wendyball and talking about your 'patriotism' for a 'nation' you sold out and your love of a game you can't be bothered to support. Massive hypocrites the lot of you.
Posted 17:38 25th December 2012