Lack of Welsh Lions must not repeated

BBC News

2 days ago

Third Test: Australia v British and Irish LionsDate: Saturday 2 August Venue: Accor Stadium Kick-off: 11:00 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC Radio Cymru, text commentary and post-match analysis on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC iPlayer and online
Former Wales centre Tom Shanklin says Welsh rugby cannot find itself in the same situation after only having two players on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.Ospreys flanker Jac Morgan and Gloucester scrum-half Tomos Williams were originally selected in Andy Farrell's 38-man squad.That contingent was reduced to one when Williams was forced home early with a hamstring injury, with Morgan featuring as a replacement in the second Test victory in Melbourne that sealed the series.There have been more Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board members in Australia than current players in recent weeks, while thousands of fans have still made the trip.Shanklin says new director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin has a key role in ensuring history does not repeat itself with the lack of players selected.
"The biggest thing is the progression and pathway, making sure we don't fall back into this situation where we have only got two, and now one, player on a Lions tour," Shanklin told the Scrum V podcast."Dave Reddin is the man, that's the most important job now, his role of developing players so that we are not in this situation again."It's about the academies, schools rugby, a pathway for players who are 15 or 16 years old, so that in five or six years we have way more quality coming through."
'Tandy can bring some steel back'
Former Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy was appointed as the new permanent Wales head coach last week following the departure of Warren Gatland in February.Matt Sherratt had taken over in a caretaker capacity with a record 18-match losing run finally ending with a victory against Japan in Kobe earlier this month."He's going to bring that steeliness back," said former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert."I just don't know what Wales are, we used to be known as such a hard team to beat."Look at Wales now and we are easy to score against and we don't score enough points."Tandy has not been a head coach at international level before with Cuthbert admitting the new Wales backroom staff will need to support the new man."Technically and tactically, Steve has been a defence coach," said Cuthbert"It's very different being head coach so he will have to get his staff right."Shanklin says he is pleased with Tandy's appointment."The Union is obviously struggling for money," said Shanklin."There could have been the option to buy someone for £600,000 but that's not going to change Welsh rugby."We progressed a little bit, maybe, with Matt Sherratt but I don't think any coach would have an instant impact."We need a blueprint, that's key, and a style of play that suits. That will have to change from what it has been to something new and it's the team he gets around him."Shanklin warned expectations need to be measured."He's not going to change the team into Six Nations winners," said Shanklin."We will still go through quite a few losses, because we just don't have the quality of player other teams have."
How many teams should Wales have?
Tandy returns to Wales at a time of more off-the-field turmoil with the WRU considering cutting at least one of the nation's professional teams.The governing body has entered a formal consultation period for the professional game that could see the the top tier of the domestic game reduced from four to three or two.Dragons, WRU-owned Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets are preparing for the start of the United Rugby Championship (URC) at the end of September and a final decision is expected from the WRU the following month.The 2027-28 season has been identified as the time for domestic change but that could even occur next year."Initially I wanted to see four teams still, because that's great pathway for players coming through and access to playing professional rugby," said Shanklin."Limit that to two teams and there's less opportunity for players. "Look at Scotland. Does two teams work there, club or nationally?"
Anglo-Welsh league hopes
Shanklin believes if the cut is made, then the semi-professional Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) will need to provide a suitable feeder system."If it is two teams then there needs to be a high standard of competition below it," said Shanklin."There can't be a massive drop below if you only have two teams and a league below where you can't bridge the gap."Players who are not selected for the two teams need to be playing in a competitive league so when there are injuries and youngsters coming through, they are not way off professional club rugby."Whatever happens with the numbers of sides, Cuthbert says he would love to see Wales move join an Anglo-Welsh league with 10 clubs currently competing in England's top division."Commercially it would be unbelievable," said the former Exeter wing."If we join that league I think it would be another level. You would have away fans turning up."The Premiership is losing money. I know they say they don't need any other teams but maybe they do."