The Welsh rugby team sending a clear message to the WRU after all that's gone on

Wales Online

2 days ago

The Welsh rugby team sending a clear message to the WRU after all that's gone on
The Scarlets are taking on Leinster in the URC play-offs this weekend
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel with his players
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency )
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel says that his side can strengthen their position with a run in the United Rugby Championship play-offs amid all the uncertainty off the field in Welsh rugby.
The west Walians are the only Welsh side in the URC play-offs, with a match against Leinster in Dublin this weekend. However, their run to the play-offs have been overshadowed by off-field events - with the Scarlets one of two teams, along with the Ospreys, not to have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement.
‌
That has seen the Welsh Rugby Union begin the process to implement the two-year option on the existing PRA, putting the futures of the two west Wales teams at risk.
‌
However, as the Scarlets - back in the play-offs for the first time since reaching the final in 2018 - head to Ireland, Peel says the players haven't been too concerned about what has been going on in boardrooms.
"I think within these four walls obviously, it's not really overshadowed it," said Peel.
"I think that, for ourselves, we focus a lot on the rugby. Conversations have been happening here as well above our heads and we're up to date and up to speed with everything that's been going on.
‌
"But we've concentrated on the game in hand. For ourselves and the region as a whole, I think it's a great week to be part of."
Should Welsh rugby find itself in the position where four teams does go down to three, a number of different factors will likely decide who goes.
Quite simply, with the two west Wales clubs on a different financial agreement to Cardiff and Dragons, merely who is able to survive the coming years could determine it.
‌
But, were it to come down to looking at the four sides equally, the fact that the Scarlets are the only team in the play-offs could, in theory, count for something.
"Yes, I suppose there is an argument for that," admitted Peel. "I think that there's a lot of things that will come into that meritocracy argument, I'm sure.
"For us, we're a proud region and rugby means a lot to the people of our community. And I think that if there's anything that we can do to improve our argument - to highlight it - that is performing on the field.
‌
"That undoubtedly carries weight. It's about us representing this great club and region, really doing it to the best of our ability, and putting our best foot forward.
"That's all we can do as staff and players. For me, that has always been a big part of of our culture. That has always been a big part of why we play the game here.
"For me, it was a big part of why I wanted to come back. I've I loved it as a player and I've loved being part of it as a coach as well.
‌
"So I think that it's about representing this region to the best of our ability.
"If we can go as far as we can in this competition, then that highlights what it means to us as a group, and what it means to our fanbase and stakeholders." Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
On whether on-field success should carry the most weight when it comes to deciding teams' fates, Peel added: "I can only speak from my perspective and I always want to be here as a successful rugby team.
‌
"I think that everything that carries off the back of that – the decisions – they are out of my hands.
"All I can do, all we can do as a group, is put our best foot forward.
"By us being successful, by us winning rugby games, that's the only currency we have as rugby players and rugby coaches."
‌
As for how the current situation would affect Peel in terms of building towards next season, the former Wales scrum-half was fairly relaxed as he kept his focus on the Irish province.
"I think that those type of things will play out over the next couple of weeks and all we can do is concentrate on the here and now," he said.
"The reality is that there are conversations going on above our heads at the minute and I know we're up to speed with everything. We have in our board to do the best best by this region.
Article continues below
"I think that all we can do as a group of players now is to continue playing as hard as we can and the other things will fall into place off the back of it.
"As a group of players, we have an exciting weekend for us and the supporters. The board are obviously working hard on in the background."