Former Wales captain calls for WRU control of all clubs as 'writing on the wall'

Wales Online

19-05-2025

Former Wales captain calls for WRU control of all clubs as 'writing on the wall'
The pair were speaking on BBC Radio Wales to dissect the stand-off between the WRU and the two west Walian sides
The WRU are facing a challenge from west Wales clubs Scarlets and Ospreys
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
Former Wales international Paul Thorburn says he understands the concerns from the Ospreys and Scarlets around the WRU's ownership of Cardiff Rugby, but has urged the Welsh game to move towards a set-up closer to the Irish model of union control.
Both the Ospreys and Scarlets made the decision not to sign up to Welsh rugby's new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) earlier this month, causing the union to announce it was to move away from the approach of four evenly funded professional sides, which could in turn see the number of professional sides in Wales reduced to three.
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The two clubs had already expressed concerns around the union's takeover of Cardiff Rugby, and had sought assurances that it "will not disproportionally benefit Cardiff and disadvantage the independent clubs". Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
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Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, former Neath full-back Thorburn said he could see where the two clubs were coming from, but also said the financial management of some regions hadn't been up to scratch in recent years.
"I understand that," he said. "But I'm also aware that some of our regions have been less than sensible when it comes to good financial management. I've witnessed it first-hand where excessive salaries have been paid to some of the management they've brought in from overseas, beyond our ability.
"You can't spend what you haven't got. That's a simple fact of life. I think we need a complete wholesale review of where we are in the game. If these measures are there to try and spend a few years sorting it out, so be it.
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"I am an advocate of the Irish model. There seems to be far more collaborating and working together over there. I don't see why we can't have a similar model over here."
Thorburn said he also supported the idea of bringing all the regions under the control of the union.
"I think the writing has been on the wall for some time that the game is walking a very thin tightrope. Let's be fair and honest, Welsh rugby is never going to compete financially with the likes of France, England and Ireland. Never have done, never will do.
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"I've been an advocate for, I have to say, trying to bring the regions within the control of the Union - albeit I'm not saying the Union is brilliantly administered necessarily.
"But it certainly needs a better structure where we're all working collaboratively. In our history, we've had problems with our clubs, then regions, with some going financially in a very difficult position. There's no consistency, that's the problem. I think we now need to have a better working model, where everyone is working together. I don't believe that has been the case over the years."
Commenting alongside Thorburn, Nigel Davies said examining the number of professional sides as way to map out a route out of this latest crisis, was potentially the wrong way of looking at things.
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"Paul makes a good point about collaboration and a plan to move forward," he said. "But surely that's what should have been done over the last 18 months.
"We've come up with this One Wales strategy, which I've looked at in detail, and while there is significant talk about what they want to happen, there's no detail about how it's going to happen.
"You would have thought that would have encompassed what needed to happen, how we can move forward within the professional game as well as the community game.
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"I think the one problem we've got, people talk about the number of regions and what the right number is. I think that's the wrong question. It's what we want our professional teams in Wales to look like to be successful.
"That's men and women's. Until we have that model and are clear about what successful rugby teams in Wales look like, I think it's very difficult to have this conversation.
"I think that's part of the problem. Paul mentions that some of the regions have been mismanaged in the past. He's probably right and the regions are the first to admit that."