Wales consider cutting number of professional rugby teams in half
A statement from the WRU on Monday afternoon heralded a formal consultation and engagement process with stakeholders, including players and staff from Cardiff, the Dragons, the Ospreys and the Scarlets, that will take place over August and September and lead to a restructure.
It is said to be covering 'the entire high-performance structure' of the game in Wales from age-grade pathways to professional clubs and its results will be confirmed in October.
The WRU board has already voiced its view that it does not see the current model of four equally-funded regional sides continuing, but Monday's statement suggested that Wales could end up with two professional men's teams as a result of these discussions.
Among the 'key potential developments to be consulted' during the engagement process was listed 'whether there should be a reduction to three or two regional men's teams to ensure that we have the teams that can compete at the top of the professional game'.
Days after Wales beat Japan 31-22 in Kobe to halt a run of 18 successive Test match losses that stretched back to the 2023 World Cup, the WRU statement delivered the reality check that 'Welsh rugby has experienced a deterioration in performance on and off the field and, statistically, has just had its worst season ever in its senior men's game'.
The WRU signalled its intention to strike upon a 'more radical strategy' to address a situation that 'isn't currently financially sustainable given the investment required'. Funding to strengthen Super Rygbi Cymru, a semi-professional competition, was named as another aspect of the discussions.
Dave Reddin, who has worked with Sir Clive Woodward and Sir Gareth Southgate in previous roles with England and the Football Association, was unveiled as the WRU's new director of rugby and elite performance in April.
A full-time successor to Warren Gatland, who left his role as head coach in February, is yet to be determined. Matt Sherratt continued in a caretaker capacity for the trip to Japan. Reddin has been tasked with recruiting for this position and has reportedly identified a suitable candidate.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Georgia Hunter Bell wins 800m Diamond League meeting and reveals she will seek advice of Dame Kelly Holmes ahead of Tokyo World Championships
Georgia Hunter Bell emerged from the shadows of training partner Keely Hodgkinson to give the London Stadium something to shout about on a day of shocks with both Noah Lyles and Britain's reigning world champion Josh Kerr beaten. On the day that Britain launched its bid to host the 2029 world championships, 31-year-old Hunter Bell provided an extra feelgood factor for a capacity 60,000 crowd attending the Diamond League meeting. Despite being a bronze medallist in last year's Olympics 1500metres, Hunter Bell remains relatively unsung compared to middle-distance queen Hodgkinson, the reigning BBC Sports Personality of the Year. But with her friend injured, Hunter Bell took full advantage to power away from a strong 800metres field to win in a season's best 1m56.74s with home athletes Jemma Reekie and Laura Muir down the field. Hunter Bell could now double up in the 800 and 1500 at September's world championship in Tokyo but will first ask the advice of Dame Kelly Holmes – who won Olympic gold in both. 'Technically it is an option because the schedule is generous for it,' she said. 'I might reach out to Kelly and see what she thinks. I don't know. It is hard but one event completes before the second one starts. On the GB bid, she added: 'You feel so supported in this stadium. It was so noisy for us British girls in the race, it was incredible. Having the worlds here would be incredible.' And though Hodgkinson's hamstring issues have prevented her from racing since the Olympics, Hunter Bell expects her rival to be on the start line in Tokyo. 'She's good. She's working her way back,' confirmed Hunter Bell. 'No-one wants to be racing more than Keely. She'll be back soon. We train with each other and make each other quicker.' Elsewhere, there was disappointment for Kerr in the 1500metres as he was outpaced by teenage Kenyan sensation Phanuel Koech and finished second. Fourth-place Jake Wightman doesn't think Koech's eye-catching time of 3m28.82s should make him favourite for the worlds. 'The Diamond League are pace races. It is different in championships when there is no one to dictate pace and you need to be astute,' he said. An even bigger upset came in the men's 100m when the supposed fastest man on the planet, Olympic 100m champion Lyles, looked sluggish next to Jamaican rival Oblique Seville who clocked 9.86s. On the GB bid, she added: 'You feel so supported in this stadium. It was so noisy for us British girls in the race, it was incredible.' In mitigation, it was Lyles' first race at the distance since Paris and he insisted afterwards: 'There is no need to panic.' Charlie Dobson was a British winner in the 400metres ahead of compatriot Matt Hudson-Smith but there was disappointment for other home favourites Dina Asher-Smith, Katerina Johnson-Thompson and Molly Caudery in their individual events. Earlier in the day, Athletics Ventures had announced a GB bid for the 2029 world championships and world Paralympics, backed by Prime Minister Keir Stramer who said: 'Bringing them here would be a moment of great national pride and provide a boost for businesses and jobs.' However, the President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, warned there will be stiff competition from other major cities in different continents. He said: 'London has some very clear and obvious assets. We are an athletics-loving nation and people turn up. But it will be competitive. There are a lot of good cities out there,' he said. 'I'm not going to give a list of runners and riders but there are cities who have already expressed an interest and are engaging with us.' There was no louder cheer in the old Olympic Stadium yesterday than the British 4x400metre relay squad receiving their rightful gold medal from the 1997 world championships – 28 years late. Originally finishing second to USA, they were upgraded to first in 2008 when it was discovered Antonio Pettigrew in the American team was a drugs cheat. It's taken all this time since for Roger Black, Iwan Thomas, Jamie Baulch, Mark Richardson and Mark Hilton to all be available at the same British meet to receive their gongs. The moment had extra poignancy for Thomas, who has given his medal to six-year-old son Teddy, who spent 10 days in intensive care as a baby after catching Group B Strep (GBS) that causes breathing difficulties. The ceremony also had a tinge of sadness as Pettigrew committed suicide in 2010, aged 42. 'I'd rather him have the gold medal than taking his life,' said Baulch.
The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
Oleksandr Usyk confirms his place in boxing history with stunning victory
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois by fifth-round stoppage at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. The victory saw Usyk become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, regaining his undisputed status and the IBF title. The 38-year-old Ukrainian remains unbeaten in his professional career and is one of the finest boxers of this generation. This marks Usyk's third overall undisputed championship, having previously held all major belts at cruiserweight. For 27-year-old Dubois, it was another loss to Usyk, following their controversial 2023 bout in Poland.
Reuters
14 minutes ago
- Reuters
Usyk demolishes Dubois with fifth-round knockout to reclaim undisputed crown
LONDON, July 19 (Reuters) - Oleksandr Usyk floored Briton Daniel Dubois in the fifth round of a thrilling contest at Wembley Stadium on Saturday to once again become the undisputed heavyweight boxing world champion. The win saw Usyk retain his WBC, WBA and WBO belts and reclaim the IBF belt he vacated last year before a rematch with Tyson Fury, with Dubois upgraded to champion and then defending the title against Anthony Joshua last September. Usyk's skill was evident from the outset as he sidestepped everything thrown his way with deceptive ease and connected repeatedly with his jab, putting on a masterclass in counter-punching against an opponent 11 years younger than him. Asked about the win, Usyk said: "38 is a young guy, remember! 38 is only (the) start! "I want to say thank you to Jesus Christ. I want to say thank you to my team and Wembley, thank you so much! It's for the people. "Nothing is next. It's enough, next, I don't know. I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest." Usyk, who improved his professional record to 24-0, is now a three-time undisputed champion, twice in the heavyweight division and once as a cruiserweight. Despite weighing in at a career-heaviest 227.3 pounds on Friday, Usyk floated around the ring with an almost balletic grace and prevented Dubois from making the most of his superior size. The Ukrainian comfortably outclassed his opponent in three of the first four rounds, but most of the damage was dealt out in a brutal fifth-round beatdown. The Ukrainian sent his opponent to the canvas with an overhand right, before a booming left hand right on the chin dashed Dubois' dreams and brought an end to the bout. Dubois was defiant after his loss, telling DAZN: "I have to commend him on the performance, I gave everything I had. "Take no credit away from that man. I'll be back. I was just fighting, trying to pick up round by round. It is what it is." The Ukrainian also hinted at a potential third fight against Britain's Fury, who he beat twice last year. "Maybe, we have three choices, (Fury), Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Maybe Joseph Parker. Listen, I cannot now say because I want to go back home," he added. The unification fight was a rematch of one that Dubois lost by a controversial ninth-round knockout in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2023, after Usyk was given time to recover from what the referee ruled was a low blow. Fighting earlier on the undercard, Briton Lawrence Okolie beat South African Kevin Lerena by unanimous decision in a lacklustre contest.
