Makin makes history with PSA Squash Tour Finals title win
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Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
WRU press nuclear button with 'radical' and 'systemic' proposals to revive Welsh rugby, as two of four sides face risk of axe
Amid an hour-long press conference, pages of documents and PowerPoint slides and public outcry at the Welsh Rugby Union's radical proposal for how Wales' national game will look moving forwards, one quote stood out at Principality Stadium on Wednesday. 'It's clear the Welsh elite rugby system is no longer achieving its aims,' the WRU said in the lengthy written material provided to journalists which put forward, among many other things, the idea to cut the country's number of professional domestic teams from four to two. This is entirely correct. There can be no doubt change is needed and the WRU has certainly pressed the nuclear button. By their own admission, the change they are proposing is 'radical' and 'systemic' – all with a view to taking Wales from the doldrums and back to winning ways. Dave Reddin, the WRU's director of rugby, even admitted some of the proposals being put forward were 'nutty.' They have led to an outpouring of criticism. That was predictable. However, after a string of crises, the WRU knew it had to act decisively and deserves credit for doing so, even if the final outcome in the weeks to come might not actually be what is currently on the table. Time will tell if that happens or not. 'Change is hard and this is going to be hard,' admitted chief executive Abi Tierney. 'But I think this is going to get us to a better place. I hope the fans will feel hope for the future. I absolutely recognise the hurt and anger the fans will be feeling.' There is certainly pain out there. While the WRU's hierarchy was at pains to point out no final decision has been made and a six-week public consultation will now take place among Welsh rugby's stakeholders, on Wednesday we learned the governing body's preference is to halve the number of its clubs. It means two of Dragons, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets are now very much at risk. The WRU believes doing so can take them 'from last place in the men's and women's Six Nations to winning' and help them become 'genuine wild card World Cup winners'. That is certainly optimistic. Reddin said: 'Why shouldn't we have that ambition? My career has taught me if you dream exciting dreams it's amazing how quickly you can get there. 'Nobody wants to be where we are now.' The WRU's plan is for their two teams to each have a men's and women's side. At this stage, it is unclear whether the two will be entirely new entities or existing outfits. That will only become clear once the consultation process is complete. Only then will the WRU board look to officially ratify the next steps. The fall-out has started already, with player and staff jobs under threat. Wales back Joe Hawkins, who this summer joined Scarlets from Exeter, described the potential of his country going to two teams as 'very short sighted'. Hawkins added: 'It will definitely increase squad quality and maybe success short term but probably at the cost of the little fans Welsh rugby has left walking away which will kill the game.' There are undoubtedly positives to what is being put forward in what the WRU says is its 'proposed optimal system'. Funding each men's team to the tune of circa £8million with squads of 50 players apiece will increase their chances of being competitive domestically. Creating a stronger female game in Wales is to be applauded too. Reddin wants to build a new training base for all of Wales' international sides and the two proposed club teams, though where that will be located and the cost to build it are also unknowns as we stand. 'We want to lead. Let's be brave rather than just follow,' said Reddin, whose performance experience includes working alongside Sir Gareth Southgate at the Football Association and helping England win the 2003 Rugby World Cup under Sir Clive Woodward's guidance. Reddin admitted his Welsh rugby vision was 'somewhat' influenced by English football as well as other sports. He added: 'When St. George's Park was proposed there was a huge amount of opposition. It's become a beacon for English football. We are trying to do something differently. 'If we are just going to copy people, we will always be behind. 'It was noticeable that Reddin fronted Wales' D-Day press conference as the central figure, Tierney and chair Richard Collier-Keywood flanking him. It is obvious Reddin is the driving force behind this. The big question now the WRU has nailed its colours to the mast is whether or not they will come to fruition. That remains a very big if. It is likely that in the coming weeks any team put at risk will launch legal action. Cardiff, owned by the WRU after falling into administration earlier this year, are the exception. 'We feel confident in our legal position,' Collier-Keywood said 'I'm not going to duck the decision. We are not going to sit on our hands.' That, however, might be taken out of the WRU's control. There is much to consider here. Well-placed sources have indicated that while going from four to two is the WRU's preferred option, the final outcome may not be that severe. Throughout September, the WRU will seek the views of its stakeholders who are unlikely to all provide enthusiastic feedback. He and Reddin will lead the next steps with Tierney beginning time away from her role as of Friday to focus on health treatment following her cancer diagnosis. 'We realise this is emotional. But we are trying to get the best answer for Welsh rugby,' said Collier-Keywood. 'We are not looking for a sticking plaster. 'Collier-Keywood labelled on Wednesday as an 'historic day in the future of Welsh rugby' and there can be no doubt the changes proposed represent the most seismic upheaval in Wales' national game in more than 20 years. But there is plenty of water still to be passed under the bridge before they come to fruition. The next month won't be dull though after all, this is the madhouse that is Welsh rugby. It never is.
BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
Archer & Cartwright seal vital Brave win over Fire
The Hundred men's competition, Sophia GardensSouthern Brave 129-8 (100 balls): Cartwright 51* (19); Henry 2-5 Welsh Fire 125-8 (100 balls): Kohler-Cadmore 25 (28); Archer 3-20Brave won by four runsScorecard. Table Southern Brave revived their Hundred campaign after three straight defeats with a crucial four-run win over Welsh Fire at Sophia Gardens. The game was in the balance, with Fire needing 16 from the last 10 balls, but Tom Kohler-Cadmore was caught off James Coles for 25 to dent the hosts' hopes. Matt Henry then needed a six from the final ball to win but only managed a single as Chris Jordan held his nerve, with Fire finishing 125-8 and Jofra Archer taking Cartwright's unbeaten 51 off just 19 balls proved the difference after Brave's innings had been floundering at 71-5 from 71 balls when he came in at number pummelled five sixes in his knock as Brave recovered to 129-8 on a slow surface against Fire, whose hopes of qualifying for the knockouts are all-but over, with just one win from five matches. Fire started positively with the ball as New Zealand seamer Matt Henry bowled the second-most economical spell in The Hundred men's compettion with 2-5 - Brave crawling to 18-1 after the powerplay. James Vince's 29 was the only notable contribution from the top order as Chris Green and David Payne also took two wickets each for Fire. In contrast, Fire made an explosive start with 46-3 from their first 25 balls as Jonny Bairstow started aggressively, whacking 22 from 10 balls before he was dismissed by Craig then removed Steve Smith for 13 before adding Luke Wells and Paul Walter to his tally as Fire's middle order buckled under the pressure. The win takes Brave to third in the table while Fire remain bottom. What is happening on Thursday? Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets will both be hoping to bounce back from defeats in their previous matches, as they play at The Oval at 15:00 then a top of the table contest in the men's game, which follows at 18:30 can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
New CEO tees up Tiger to redefine PGA Tour competition
August 20 - ATLANTA -- Brian Rolapp has a new job -- and now so does Tiger Woods. Rolapp, the PGA Tour's new CEO 18 days into his tenure, announced the formation of the Future Competition Committee on Wednesday in advance of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Woods agreed to serve as chairman for the nine-person committee. The aim of the newly formed group, which has yet to meet, is to define a competitive model for PGA Tour events. The committee will consist of five other players -- Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Camilo Villegas, Maverick McNealy and Keith Mitchell -- and three business advisors with Joe Gorder, who serves on the Tour's policy board, and John Henry and Theo Epstein, both of the Fenway Sports Group. Rolapp comes to the PGA Tour as the CEO after a career with the NFL as commissioner Jay Monahan steps aside. "We're going to focus on the evolution of our competitive model and the corresponding media products and sponsorship elements and model of the entire sport, "Rolapp said. "The goal is not incremental change. The goal is significant change." The governing principles of the player-led committee are: Parity: to strengthen a commitment to a meritocratic structure. Scarcity: to increase fan engagement by ensuring top players compete together more often. Simplicity: to better connect the regular and postseason to magnify the season-ending Tour Championship. "The strength of the PGA Tour is strong, but there's much more we need to do, much more we need to change for the benefit of fans, players and our partners," Rolapp said. "I said when I took the job that I would take it with a clean sheet of paper, and that is still true. ... I said, we're going to honor tradition, but we will not be overly bound by it. Now we're going to start turning that blank sheet of paper into action with an idea to aggressively build on the foundation that we have." PGA Tour player Harris English is one of about 20 players Rolapp has spoken with since joining the organization. English said the two spoke for about 45 minutes. "I've been out here 14 years," English said. "I've seen a lot of changes out here, and (I gave him) kind of my thoughts on what's good, what's bad, what needs to be changed." One of the key issues facing Rolapp will be the relationship between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The two entities continue separate paths with no prospect of a resolution anytime soon. Rolapp said he has not spoken with anyone from the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi-led group that finances LIV Golf. He was pressed about a possible resolution that would enable the world's best players to compete against each other, or at be in the same tournament fields more often. "I think I'm going to focus on what I can control," Rolapp said. "I would offer to you that the best collection of golfers in the world are on the PGA Tour. I think there's a bunch of metrics that demonstrate that, from rankings to viewership to whatever you want to pick. I'm going to lean into that and strengthen that. "I will also say that to the extent we can do anything that's going to further strengthen the PGA Tour, we'll do that, and I'm interested in exploring whatever strengthens the PGA Tour." --Chris Vivlamore, Field Level Media
