Where can Welsh rugby possibly go from here?

BBC News

16-03-2025

Did that really happen?Welsh rugby fans woke up bleary eyed on Sunday morning wondering whether they had experienced the nightmare of England running riot against their side.It was no dream. Some of the raw emotion might have elapsed almost 24 hours on but what unfolded for Wales on Saturday evening against England in Cardiff will be remembered for a long time.Welsh rugby hit rock bottom through the shattering reality of a record humiliation at the Principality Stadium.It was Wales' heaviest defeat in Cardiff, biggest home or away Six Nations loss, the most points conceded against England and confirmed a second successive Wooden Spoon.Wales must also reflect on a 17th Test defeat in a row, which is the worst run of results for a tier one nation in rugby union's professional era.They have additionally gone two years and 11 games without a Six Nations win and not won a home Test match since a 2023 World Cup warm-up victory over England.So where does the shambles that is currently Welsh rugby go from here?
Is there a strategy?
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) will say there is a long-term strategy and will bristle if suggested otherwise.What in practice they are referring to is the launch of the 'One Wales' document in June 2024, essentially a wish-list of where they want to be in 2029.That announcement was light in detail with more information set to be provided when the WRU and four professional sides officially sign a new agreement which has been ratified in principle.Former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones says change needs to be seismic and another old Wales skipper Gwyn Jones told the WRU they should not "waste this crisis" and must oversee radical alterations.Early indication is it will be evolution rather than revolution with the WRU committed to maintaining the status quo of four professional sides. There should be a incremental increase in budgets from £4.5m towards £6.8m in three years.The formal announcement is yet to be made public with two regions still to officially sign the deal but it is hoped to be completed in the next few weeks.
'Fans deserve to know'
Following the England debacle, it was left to interim head coach Matt Sherratt to say there needs to be a Welsh rugby reset and change to the foundations of the game.There have been no public comments following another disastrous Six Nations campaign yet from chief executive Abi Tierney or chair Richard Collier-Keywood.Former Wales captain Sam Warbuton believes the governing body need to be more vocal and transparent to the fans."The key stakeholder in the WRU is the fans, who are paying £100 a ticket to come here," Warburton told the BBC."I think they deserve to know. As a company, I think it's really good to get buy-in from the fans and say 'look, this is our mission, this is what we want to do, this is our one, three, five-year plan, this is what we want to achieve'. I think people have the right to do that."People are they're losing faith now but they'll lose faith even quicker if there is radio silence. "If they just come out and say what the plan is you want to get the public onside."Warburton added: "The reason Welsh rugby survives is because we can fill out 75,000 here [at the Principality Stadium] and all that money filters down into the pro teams, into age-grade, into grassroots."Without the internationals and the fans coming, there's not much of a game in Wales, so you've got to keep fans onside."
Who will be the new people in charge?
Wales do not play again until the first of two Tests against Japan in Kitakyushu on 5 July. By that time a new head coach and director of rugby should be in place.Whoever takes the reins in those posts faces a Herculean task on and off the pitch as Wales look for a way to climb out of an unholy mess.The shortlist for the director of rugby post, that is effectively replacing Nigel Walker who departed in December 2024, has been drawn up with interviews ongoing with an appointment expected before the end of the month.The choice the WRU need to make is whether to promote from within with an interim candidate like Huw Bevan or decide they need an outside voice.The quest to replace former head coach Warren Gatland continues with the likes of Michael Cheika, Franco Smith, Simon Easterby, Stuart Lancaster and Pat Lam having been in the frame.One man who says he will not be in charge is Sherratt will now return to his day job as Cardiff head coach, having overseen Wales' comfortable tournament highlight of running Ireland close at home.Sherratt answered the Welsh rugby's SOS after Gatland exited during the Six Nations following defeat against Italy in Rome.He did his utmost to instil much-needed creativity and freshness into a squad crying out for new ideas but the humiliation against England was a game too far.
What happens to the squad?
They say a picture tells a thousand words.The sight of Wales scrum consultant Adam Jones leaning against the wall in disbelief about what was happening against England in Cardiff will live long in the memory.Wales will be hoping they can keep Jones involved after the former prop was loaned out by Harlequins for the tournament.The backroom staff will be at the mercy of new appointments with attack coaches Alex King and Rob Howley having already departed from their roles.The position of defence coach Mike Forshaw will be under scrutiny with Wales having conceded 25 tries and 195 points in five matches, while forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys has been in situ since 2019.The concern will be the detrimental effect the losing sequence will have on players, with captain Jac Morgan understandably cutting a disconsolate figure after the England hammering."When I went in they needed a little love," said Sherratt. "They have taken some body blows over the last 12 to 18 months."Regionally it has been hard and they have come into a national team where it is hard to get a win."There will be a three-month break now for Wales and it is about making sure there are not too many scars."
Reasons to be cheerful?
Positives are understandably few and far between.The overall form of captain Morgan in adversity and the emergence of full-back Blair Murray spring to mind.Sherratt continually says Morgan, Dewi Lake and Dafydd Jenkins are the future of this side and could be joined by some younger talent soon.The most optimism in the men's game is the rise of the Wales Under-20s this season. Richard Whiffin guided his side to a third place finish with notable home victories against Ireland and England.The uplifting victory over the young English side in front of more than 8,000 fans at the Arms Park has been the highlight of a desperate season and proved there is young talent coming through before you throw in the likes of Morgan Morse, Dan Edwards and Macs Page. After the England embarrassment, Welsh fans are trying to cling onto anything.There is one question on the lips of the long-suffering supporters.Where does Welsh rugby go from here?