Welsh Rugby finally admits it wants to cut professional teams by half
At an emotive press conference at the Principality Stadium on Wednesday, the WRU executive unveiled its 'proposed optimal system' for the future of the elite game in Wales. The proposal, which has been presented to the WRU board, will go into a period of consultation with stakeholders across the Welsh game until the end of September, along with four possible models, with a decision to come by the end of October.
Wales have suffered successive whitewashes in the men's Six Nations and in Japan in July ended a record losing run of 18 consecutive Tests. The four models identified to save the future of the sport in Wales, which currently runs four regional, elite clubs which are equally funded, are:
Four professional clubs with unequal funding (two elite and two development)
Three professional, elite clubs with equal funding
Three professional clubs with unequal funding (two elite and one development)
Two professional, elite clubs with equal funding.
An adapted version of the latter model is what the WRU executive are proposing, with both clubs hosting a professional men's and women's team. The locations and names of these clubs and teams, given no decision on the future structure of Welsh rugby has been decided yet, are still to be confirmed. They might consist of existing regions or they might be new entities.
Should the WRU proceed with two existing regions and identities, the executive revealed that they would not stand in the way of the remaining two sides applying to join the English pyramid. However, Abi Tierney, the WRU chief executive, said that it would still be 'very difficult' for those remaining sides to jump ship to England, owing to minimum standards criteria, the current salary cap formula, and the fact they would not be financially backed by their own union.
'All options [for the unwanted clubs] are open,' said Dave Reddin, the WRU's director of rugby and elite performance. 'That will be someone else's decision, of course, but all the options are open. We have given that some thought but we want to hear the reality of that. The transition would be a much more significant and detailed process that we have to go into. It's not as simple as turning one thing off and one thing on concurrently.
'We want to be winning the United Rugby Championship. That's the ambition.'
Whichever option the WRU decide – either to continue with existing entities or create two brand new ones – both clubs will be based under the same roof under the proposed optimal system, with a new national campus to become the training base for Wales's national teams, its national academies and the two professional entities.
How centralisation would work
Should they settle on an adapted version of the two-club model, each will have their own separate stadiums, identities and tactics and will train separately but might share gym facilities as well as other amenities at the new campus. All elite contracts and academy management will be centralised by the WRU.
Given that at least two of the current Welsh regions will cease to exist if the WRU's proposed optimal system is green-lit, Reddin admitted that the executive had discussed the prospect of strike action.
'We have spoken about that,' Reddin said. 'But the early indications, chatting to a group of players in a pre-consultation last night, are positive. I experienced strike action with the England rugby team [in 2000]. It would be a disaster for everyone.'
Tierney added: 'People will be hurting today but I encourage everyone to step into the future.'
The consultation report, presented today by the WRU executive, outlines how a new domestic women's competition and an improvement of Super Rygbi Cymru, the tier below the elite, are part of the proposal. The report admits that 'in a nation where proximity should be a strength and the professional game has a structure that requires teamwork, it is clear that we have collectively failed to collaborate' while also outlining four performance expectations: 'From last place in the men's and women's Six Nations to winning; from low-ranked teams to genuine 'wild card' World Cup winners; men's and women's professional clubs competing at the very highest level for domestic and European titles; the Welsh system becoming world leading in talent development'.
How funding will break down
On the men's side, the WRU's proposal expects each club to have 50 senior players with a squad budget of around £7.8m. The hope among Reddin, Tierney, and chair Richard Collier-Keywood was that the squads would be 'predominantly Welsh qualified' with only the 'high-standard' on non-Welsh-qualified players.
Each of the four models in the WRU's proposal has been devised using a three-part framework - financial viability, commercial opportunity, feasibility - while also developing player pathways, sustainable growth and projects which could reinvest funds into Welsh rugby. Reddin, Tierney and Collier-Keywood revealed that they had started discussions with interested investors.
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The Independent
a few seconds ago
- The Independent
Women's Rugby World Cup: England's Megan Jones on dealing with grief
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BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wales rugby bosses say cutting professional teams to two is best option
Update: Date: 18:41 BST Title: 'Hell hath no fury like a rugby nation scorned' Content: BBC Radio Wales Rugby journalist and sports broadcaster Peter Jackson says fans' anger is merely at the tip of the iceberg as it stands, and he expects it to ramp up among the next few weeks. "Hell hath no fury like a rugby nation scorned", he told BBC Radio Wales Drive. He says he thinks the concept of having an east and west Wales team is fine, but struggles with the "lack of a geographical dimension" with the proposal. "Where does east Wales begin and end, where does west Wales begin and end?" he asks, adding: "We're talking basically are we not about Cardiff and Swansea?" Jackson says the only region "high and dry" among the proposals is Cardiff, because it's in the capital city, and is owned by the WRU. Despite questions around how it will operate, Jackson applauded the union for the radical plan, adding that the WRU were ultimately left with two choices. These are either continuing with four fully professional teams, he said, "hopelessly underfunded and unable to punch their weight", or the alternative of creating two regional teams properly resourced to be competitive. As a journalist for more than 50 years, Jackson says he remembers a time when there were 16 Welsh rugby clubs in Wales, which was "the envy of the world". "It has gone from 16 to nine, to five, to four, and now inevitably, to two." "Serious times," he adds, "but we cannot go on as we have done for the last 16 years". Update: Date: 18:28 BST Title: Could Welsh rebels play in England? Content: Matt LloydBBC Sport at Principality Stadium Some fans have mooted the possibility of resurrecting the infamous rebel season of 1998-99 and having their team playing in England if they are to be cut by the Welsh Rugby Union. Well, that might be far easier said than done. Firstly - officially - the Welsh Rugby Union would have to give the go-ahead to a Welsh team playing elsewhere and - interestingly - at today's press conference they declined to say they would stand in any team's way. But without the WRU's funding, the chances of any region being allowed into, for example, Premiership Rugby in England are exceptionally slim... and that's if English clubs wanted it. WRU chief executive said: "The idea that two clubs that were no longer supported by the WRU could play in the English Premiership franchise, understanding what the minimum standards that are required [in that league], it would be very, very difficult. "I think it's a bit of a red herring to suggest that." Director of rugby Dave Reddin added: "We've got to think of the bigger picture and in the short term, that [playing in England] is not a viable option. "We're dealing with what we've got. We're competing in the URC, that's our focus and the ambition is to be winning that." Update: Date: 18:09 BST Title: 'You can't take the emotion out of it' Content: Charlie BucklandBBC News Scarlets fan Jenny Tillier, 75, says "you can't take the emotion out of something you have been with for years". "Llanelli has been known for years," she told BBC Wales. "You can't take the emotion out of it, the emotion is there. It's always been an emotional game". Other Scarlets fans have been voicing their passion through an online petition calling for the rugby club to be saved, which currently has 930 signatures. The petition says the club is the "cornerstone of our community", adding its potential loss is not just a matter of sports but "a blow to cultural and communal identity here in west Wales". Update: Date: 17:52 BST Title: 'It's not all pounds and pence' Content: BBC Radio Wales Former Wales, Lions and Scarlets wing, Dafydd James, who played at the start of the regional project, says the announcement has been "another firework set off in the WRU fall of fame". Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Drive, James compares the regions to a "house of cards built on sand foundations" adding: "We done exceptionally well for what we had with the structure in place." James says he feels for the players but agreed that something needs to dramatically change. He says here isn't enough support for youth rugby or enough resources within schools to develop young players, something which he says needs to be prioritised. "If they are going to be two teams which it does appear, west and east, there has got to be a total re-brand, says James, adding that there has to be a revival of the youth club scene to "get that hunger and desire" in rugby again, for both players and supporters. "It is very much part of culture within Wales, people go out on a Saturday afternoon and watch a game of rugby watch a game of football, and that's their way of venting and getting out there," he adds. "It's not all pounds and pence. "There is a lot to be mixed in the pot, but it seems it will be rubber stamped." Update: Date: 17:36 BST Title: Why does Welsh Rugby Union want a 'radical' refresh? Content: Wales' men's national team basked in a golden era after rugby went regional here in 2003. They won four Six Nations Grand Slams in 14 years and reached the World Cup semi-finals twice. The Welsh team reached number one in the world too, and the British and Irish Lions picked 10 Welshmen in their third Test win over Australia in 2013. But they have since slumped to a record 18-match losing streak - going 644 days without a win - and slipped to 12th in the world rankings this year. Then just two Wales players were picked for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia this summer. The Ospreys have won four league titles and Scarlets two but no Welsh team has won it since 2017. The Cardiff region has won two European Challenge Cups - the second tier European competition - but the last of which was in 2018. Only one Welsh region - the Scarlets in 2017/18 - have reached the quarter finals of the Champions Cup in 13 years. Update: Date: 17:18 BST Title: 'We feel up here, we're in no man's land, the forgotten part' Content: Charlie BucklandBBC News Emlyn Jones, the chair of Aberystwyth Rugby Club, which falls under the Scarlets catchment, says regional rugby has been "a bit of a mess" over the past few years, and the WRU "hasn't done what they should", especially in mid and north Wales. Mr Jones says: "We feel up here, we're in no man's land, the forgotten part." Reacting to the announcement, Mr Jones says Wales has the players, but many are going over the border to England in order to play professionally. "With several going to Hartpury, Sedbergh, Gloucester, Oxford, all across the border, and only then have they gone on to win caps for Wales," he says. "It's a loss for the club, for the area, for the Welsh language and for the regions in Wales. "The current set up isn't working at it's failing our youngsters," he says, adding six players have left the club this year. While Mr Jones says it's a "very sad time", he is hopeful the "home of rugby" can push forward, however the politics of these regions, where they're located and who runs them, still remains unanswered. Update: Date: 17:02 BST Title: Cardiff 'committed' to keeping professional rugby in the capital Content: Michael PearlmanBBC Sport Wales OK, we've already heard from the Ospreys after the Welsh Rugby Union announced it's proposals to cut the number of men's professional teams from four to two. Now Cardiff, who are now owned by the WRU after entering administration earlier this year, have given their views. "Following today's announcement from the Welsh Rugby Union, Cardiff Rugby would like to clarify their representation in the process," they wrote. "The club are also in the process of appointing a new independent chair. The new chair will play a key role during this consultation period. "As a club, we remain committed to ensuring professional rugby continues in Cardiff and will give all key stakeholders – included but not limited to employees, supporters and partners – the opportunity to provide comprehensive feedback. "We welcome the opportunity to actively engage in this consultation process and will do so with best interests of Cardiff Rugby at heart." Cardiff have won two European Challenge Cups since the game went professional Update: Date: 16:48 BST Title: 'Why Welsh rugby needs an east and west Wales team' Content: BBC Radio Wales Former Wales captain Paul Thorburn has told BBC Radio Wales' Phone In why he thinks the Welsh Rugby Union need to create two completely new teams in their shake-up. This video can not be played Former Wales captain Paul Thorburn tells BBC Radio Wales why an east and west team will be better than keeping two of the existing regions. Update: Date: 16:38 BST Title: Here's a bit more detail of Welsh rugby's plan Content: Matt LloydBBC Sport at Principality Stadium It remains unclear whether the two future sides being proposed will be new entities or existing teams. The Welsh Rugby Union has proposed: Update: Date: 16:20 BST Title: 'Who wants to play for a team with no history and fans' Content: Michael PearlmanBBC Sport Wales Joe Hawkins is one of the first current players to give their thoughts on the Welsh Rugby Union proposals and he doesn't seem impressed. "I think everyone agrees change is needed, but going down to two from four seems very short sighted,' the Wales and Scarlets centre wrote on X. '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 and even more players heading to England at a young age due to lack of playing opportunities. 'What happens then in five years when there is no fans and all the best young players are over the bridge with no one coming through? 'Also, as a player, if two new teams are made then who wants to play for a team with no history and no loyal and passionate supporters? All the best Welsh players will want that and find it outside of Wales.' Update: Date: 16:13 BST Title: A big day in Welsh rugby - here's all you need to know Content: Eleri GriffithsBBC News It's been another seismic day in Welsh rugby - here's what you need to know: It's a pivotal day in Welsh rugby so stick with us for all the updates and reaction. The Welsh Rugby Union has held a press conference at the Principality Stadium to unveil its plans Update: Date: 16:01 BST Title: 'You cannot mix Ospreys and Scarlets' Content: Jordan DaviesBBC News at Rodney Parade We'll bring you fan reaction as soon as we get it on the Welsh Rugby Union's proposals to half the number of men's professional teams from four to two. But Denise and Jaff sum it nicely as they explain how most Welsh rugby fans will be feeling this afternoon. 'I'm an Ospreys fan - you cannot mix the Ospreys and the Scarlets," said Jaff, 66 on a day out in Newport. Wife Denise says she's unhappy with the proposed changes, adding that the current four-region setup is 'really nice' as it is. "You'll get people saying 'I don't want any Dragons in my team'," said the 68-year-old Dragons fan. "I don't know how this mix will work." 'I'm an Ospreys fan, you cannot mix the Ospreys and the Scarlets," says Jaff (left) Update: Date: 15:50 BST Title: Welsh rugby bosses braced for legal battle Content: The Welsh Rugby Union admit their "radical" proposal to cut two regions has potential for a legal battle with clubs and leagues. The governing body's chief executive has told the press conference announcing their shake-up plans that they have already spoken to United Rugby Championship league about cutting regions. "We have spoken to the URC executive and then the shareholders of the shareholder unions, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, South Africa," she said. "I think their key message is we recognise that you need to do something different. "They are very clear that their preference would be for us to have continued as is but they recognise that that is increasingly challenging for us." The Welsh Rugby Union have said that they will stick by "our obligations in those agreements". Update: Date: 15:34 BST Title: Ospreys say Welsh rugby plan has 'interesting ideas within it' Content: The Ospreys are the first of the four current Welsh men's professional regions to have their say on the Welsh Rugby Union's proposals to cut teams. They posted on X: "We have reviewed the WRU's consultation document and welcome the opportunity to engage constructively in this process. "There are some interesting ideas within it, including options that we feel hold real potential, alongside others that present more challenges. "We look forward to working closely with the WRU and all stakeholders to help shape a system that serves the best interests of the Ospreys, our supporters, and the wider Welsh game. "Details will follow shortly for a supporters' evening, where we will share more of our views and, importantly, listen to the views of our supporters. #OurBloodIsBlack" The Ospreys won two league titles and lifted the 2008 Anglo-Welsh trophy Update: Date: 15:26 BST Title: Prefered locations of new teams not decided Content: Matt LloydBBC Sport at Principality Stadium While the Welsh Rugby Union have proposed halving their number of men's professional clubs from four to two, they have not indicated their preferred locations for clubs or names. While fans of the Ospreys, Dragons, Scarlets and Cardiff nervously wait, the governing body insist that no decision has yet been made. The WRU has revealed that there are, in fact, four models that have been put forward for the number of professional clubs. The Union has said the timescale for any changes will be dictated by their chosen option. A consultation period will begin on 1 September with regions, clubs, players and fans encouraged to get involved before a final recommendation is made in mid-October, with that month's WRU board to make a final decision. Update: Date: 15:13 BST Title: 'We know this will hurt' Content: Matt LloydBBC Sport at Principality Stadium Welsh Rugby Union's chief executive Abi Tierney has been speaking at a press conference at the Principality Stadium. "We know how emotional rugby is and that people will be hurting when thinking about what this could mean for their team," she said. "Not everyone is going to be happy but I don't think carrying on as we are is the right thing for fans either. "We had to do something radically different to get us to a better place and that everyone can get behind and we hope people will step out of their corner. "Change is hard, and this is going to be hard, but I think it will get us to a better place. 'We are clear that the current rugby model in Wales is no longer delivering what our game needs, that's why we're inviting views on the opportunities for change we've put forward.' Update: Date: 15:05 BST Title: 'Radical step' proposed to save Welsh rugby Content: Matt LloydBBC Sport at Principality Stadium Welsh Rugby bosses insist cutting the number of professional men's clubs from four to two is the "radical step" needed to save the game in Wales. The governing body has unveiled its controversial plan for the future of the elite game that puts Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets at risk. Among four models being considered is the "optimal" choice of halving the number of professional teams. The Welsh Rugby Union has not indicated their preferred locations for clubs or names and insist that no decisions have yet been made. A consultation period will begin on 1 September before a recommendation will be sent in mid-October to the WRU board to make a final decision. Update: Date: 15:00 BST Title: CONFIRMED: Welsh rugby proposes to cut clubs Content: Matt LloydBBC Sport at Principality Stadium Welsh Rugby Union confirms cutting number of professional men's clubs from four to two is best option for the game in Wales. More to come on this big breaking news from Welsh rugby HQ. Update: Date: 14:46 BST Title: 'The Scarlets have got to be involved' Content: Sara DafyddBBC News at Parc y Scarlets Right we've heard from fans at the Dragons in Newport, now to the other end of the M4 to Llanelli to for some reaction from fans outside the Scarlets ground at Parc Y Scarlets. 'I think given the heritage and the fanbase we've got here, I think Scarlets have got to be involved," said fan Richard Esney, from Llanelli. Scarlets fan and Sosbans and Sidesteps podcast host Ben Griffiths feels the Welsh Rugby Union's proposal risks 'alienating the very fans that are its lifeblood'. Although no teams have been named, the 37-year-old from Pontarddulais says: "A world without the Scarlets is a world I don't want to partake in. If we go, I'm done with Welsh rugby." For Ben, merging sides is a move "perceived as a short sighted attempt to solve financial woes by sacrificing the heritage and community ties that make Welsh rugby unique". 'It's not just 80 minutes of rugby we'd lose - it's the friendships, the days out, the sense of community. It's a huge part of my life." Scarlets fan Ben Griffiths doesn't want a world without the Scarlets Update: Date: 14:35 BST Title: 'Difficult to envisage supporting brand new teams' Content: Tomos MorganBBC News Ryan Price, treasurer of the Dragons Official Supporters Club, says Welsh rugby's situation is "incredibly frustrating". "We're told this is an open consultation on the WRU's proposals, this is just an optimal solution they may consider changing," he said. "But at the same time you have a statement from the chief executive saying it is very difficult to see a situation where Cardiff is not part of that solution." He says although there is an acceptance "radical change" is needed, it's "difficult to envisage supporting brand new teams with new names". 'We are comparatively lucky, we are only 30 miles on the train from Gloucester," said Mr Price. "There are opportunities to support top level rugby that hasn't been pulled out from under your feet'.
Scotsman
30 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Welsh rugby's stark survival plan, parallels with Scotland and potential impact on Edinburgh and Glasgow
Radical proposals could open the door for American teams in the URC Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Plans to restructure Welsh rugby by cutting the number of professional teams from four to two stirs memories of Scotland's own ham-fisted attempts to 'streamline' the pro game back in the 1990s. It was an acrimonious period and the bad blood stirred up has not entirely dissipated. Wales can expect to experience similar turbulence over the coming months as they debate the future of their national sport. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The proposals unveiled in Cardiff on Wednesday have been described as a blueprint to 'save Welsh rugby' but they are radical and will have far reaching consequences, including job losses and the demise of teams. The Welsh Rugby Union has recognised they will cause 'hurt and anger' but insist they are necessary to turn around the game at both club and international level. The detail is contained in a 90-page consultation document entitled 'The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales', the starkest part of which is the WRU's proposal to halve its number of four men's professional sides – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – to two. It remains unclear whether the two future sides being proposed will be new entities or existing teams, but the two organisations will each have a men's and women's team. Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney, Wales head coach Steve Tandy, and Wales director of rugby Dave Reddin. | PA There will be a six-week consultation period before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans, and WRU chief executive Abi Tierney has urged people to 'improve on the proposals' and provide 'something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby'. 'I know how emotional rugby is in Wales and people will be hurting today, when they think what it could mean potentially for them and their team,' said Tierney. Players were briefed on the WRU's plan on Tuesday and Dave Reddin, the new director of rugby and elite performance, is confident suggestions of possible player strike action will not materialise. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It is possible the WRU will face legal action from regions that could essentially be put out of business, with WRU chairman Richard Collier-Keywood saying 'two or three areas of potential legal challenge' exist. Dejected Wales players after the team's 19-24 defeat by Japan on July 5. It was their 18th consecutive loss but they beat the same opponents a week later to end the losing run. | Getty Images The radical two-team proposal comes a month after the Wales men's national team finally ended their 18-match losing Test run with a hard-fought 31-22 victory over Japan. Since then, Steve Tandy has been appointed head coach, leaving his post as Scotland's defence coach to lead his native country. It is a popular appointment but there can be no hiding the scale of the task ahead of him. Wales lost all their matches in the Six Nations in 2024 and 2025, the first time they have picked up back-to-back Wooden Spoons in the Six Nations era. In the United Rugby Championship, three of the four Welsh regions finished outside the top eight, with only Scarlets making the play-offs. In short, the sport in Wales is in crisis. Parallels with Scottish rugby Back in the embryonic days of professional rugby, Scotland experienced its own watershed moment. When the sport was finally declared 'open' in 1995 it is fair to say that the Scottish Rugby Union did not embrace the new era with open arms. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There was no Scottish participation in the inaugural European Cup as debate raged over who should represent Scotland in the nascent cross-border competition. Districts won the day over clubs, condemning the likes of Melrose, Hawick and Watsonians to a future on the periphery. When Scotland did take part in the second year of the European club competitions it was Edinburgh, the Borders, Caledonia and Glasgow who flew the Saltire. The four-strong contingent didn't last; by 1998 the SRU was saddled with debt and merged the teams into two so-called 'super-districts', Edinburgh Reivers and Glasgow Caledonian. By 2001, the 'Reivers' and 'Caledonian' appendages were quietly dropped in a move which saw the two teams rebranded simply 'Edinburgh' and 'Glasgow' and although the Borders Reivers team was revived as a separate entity in 2002, they lasted only five seasons before the SRU pulled the plug. The Border Reivers pro team was disbanded in 2007, with Gregor Townsend playing in their final game against the Neath-Swansea Ospreys. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 Since then, Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors have been Scotland's representatives in Europe and the Celtic League, the latter evolving into the Pro12, Pro14 and eventually the URC. The latest iteration was launched in 2022 and the big development was the inclusion of four South African franchises, bringing superstars like Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Manie Libbok into the league and driving up standards as the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions vied with the Celtic clubs and Italy's Benetton and Zebre. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Could USA teams fill the gap? How the URC fills the gap left by the Welsh announcement is now key to the league's continued success. A report this week suggested they would look to America for replacement clubs. Martin Anayi, the URC chief executive, has never been afraid to be bold - 'expansion is in our DNA', he said in June - but it's hard to see what two US franchises would bring to the party except an enlarged carbon footprint. Italian clubs joined the league in 2010, the South African sides 11 years later, creating a 16-team championship that seems to work despite its unusual geographical make-up. The URC is remaining tight-lipped about the possible inclusion of American franchises but there are obvious dangers to transatlantic expansion. The travel implications are significant, both in terms of financial cost and the strain it would put on players who already take long-haul flights every season between Europe and South Africa. Also, while South Africa is in a similar time zone to Europe, the US is not, meaning games could kick off at inconvenient times for those on this side of the Atlantic. Glasgow Warriors won the United Rugby Championship on South African soil in 2024, defeating the Bulls in the final in Pretoria. | AFP via Getty Images More significant, perhaps, is the paucity of interest in rugby in America. The sport thrives in South Africa and the inclusion of their teams in the URC has improved the league significantly but it's hard to make a case for US sides doing likewise. The States will host the men's Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women's tournament in 2033 so there is clearly a desire to grow the game before then but it is hard to break through in a country where American football dominates as a collision sport. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Black Lion, the Georgian team coached by Richard Cockerill, would seem to have a more valid claim to join the URC than any US franchise but the league is facing the biggest challenge since its inception four years ago. The four Welsh teams will be part of the new URC season which is scheduled to begin next month but the 2026-27 campaign could look very different as Edinburgh, Glasgow and the other survivors face two new opponents. Anayi has long been aware of the existential threat to the Welsh franchises and addressed the possibility of change during a media briefing in June. 'What we really want is competitive Welsh regions,' he said. 'How do you get that? What resourcing does that need in the modern environment? And what resourcing is available in Wales?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The answers should become clear over the next six weeks and are likely to test Anayi's expansionist policy. 'We've moved and tried to grow each time, and we've done it,' the chief executive said of the league's development. 'I think we genuinely have made it a better league, more competitive than ever. There's more eyeballs. It's more engaged. Competitively, it's better. It's serving the national game, international game, really well, I hope. 'So, I think it's important that we continue to look outwards.'
