Latest news with #CelticChallenge
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Wales considering cut to two or three professional teams in 'radical' restructure
The Welsh Rugby Union is considering halving the number of teams in Wales in the men's professional game. Wales' four regions - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - compete in the United Rugby Championship, but the quartet have struggled in recent years amid claims the current model of funding professional rugby in Wales is unsustainable. The WRU announced in May that it would move away from the framework of four evenly-funded clubs after Ospreys and Scarlets did not sign up to its new Professional Rugby Agreement. Now the governing body has announced it will enter into formal consultation with Wales' four regional clubs and other key stakeholders that will lead to a domestic restructure by the 2027-28 season. Listed in the "key potential developments" to be consulted upon, the WRU included: "Whether there should be a reduction to three or two regional men's teams, to ensure that we have teams that can compete at the top of the professional game." The Union added: "The WRU board has already publicly confirmed it does not see the system continuing with the current model of four equally funded regional clubs in the senior men's game. "The current rugby system in Wales, which includes national teams, professional clubs, community clubs, academies, universities and schools isn't delivering consistent success on the field and isn't currently financially sustainable given the likely investment required, even with the recent actions taken to increase financial resources. "Based on its extensive work over the past 18 months, including ongoing consultation with the four professional men's clubs, the WRU is therefore considering a more radical strategy focused on maximising investment and reforming the whole structure of professional rugby in Wales (amongst other options). "The changes would be aimed at boosting Welsh rugby as a whole: the academies, the Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) and Celtic Challenge competitions (men's and women's semi-pro game), professional clubs and the national teams for both men and women." Wales have been in a rut at international level for some time, with the men's national team having suffered 18 consecutive Test defeats before beating Japan on Saturday to square the two-match series in the Far East. The women's team have also finished bottom of the last two Six Nations Championships, losing all five matches for the first time in the 2025 edition. "The consultation will cover the entire high-performance framework from pathways to professional club structure and the senior men's and women's game," the WRU added. The consultation period will take place over August and September.
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Welsh Rugby Union considering cut to two or three regional teams in 'radical' restructure
The Welsh Rugby Union is considering halving the number of teams in Wales in the men's professional game. Wales' four regions – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – compete in the United Rugby Championship, but the quartet have struggled in recent years amid claims the current model of funding professional rugby in Wales is unsustainable. The WRU announced in May that it would move away from the framework of four evenly-funded clubs after Ospreys and Scarlets did not sign up to its new Professional Rugby Agreement. Now the governing body has announced it will enter into formal consultation with Wales' four regional clubs and other key stakeholders that will lead to a domestic restructure by the 2027-28 season. Listed in the "key potential developments" to be consulted upon, the WRU included: "Whether there should be a reduction to three or two regional men's teams, to ensure that we have teams that can compete at the top of the professional game." The Union added: "The WRU board has already publicly confirmed it does not see the system continuing with the current model of four equally funded regional clubs in the senior men's game. "The current rugby system in Wales, which includes national teams, professional clubs, community clubs, academies, universities and schools isn't delivering consistent success on the field and isn't currently financially sustainable given the likely investment required, even with the recent actions taken to increase financial resources. "Based on its extensive work over the past 18 months, including ongoing consultation with the four professional men's clubs, the WRU is therefore considering a more radical strategy focused on maximising investment and reforming the whole structure of professional rugby in Wales (amongst other options). "The changes would be aimed at boosting Welsh rugby as a whole: the academies, the Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) and Celtic Challenge competitions (men's and women's semi-pro game), professional clubs and the national teams for both men and women." Wales have been in a rut at international level for some time, with the men's national team having suffered 18 consecutive Test defeats before beating Japan on Saturday to square the two-match series in the Far East. The women's team have also finished bottom of the last two Six Nations Championships, losing all five matches for the first time in the 2025 edition. "The consultation will cover the entire high-performance framework from pathways to professional club structure and the senior men's and women's game," the WRU added. The consultation period will take place over August and September.
South Wales Argus
09-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Hughes believes physical battle key to Scotland clash
The opening round of games at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, saw both sides lose in closely fought physical encounters. Wales slipped to a 22-10 defeat against their Ireland Under-20 counterparts while Scotland were downed 31-17 by England. The tournament hosts looked strong early on against Ireland, pinning their opponents inside their own 22 for much of the opening 10 minutes. But despite ultimately failing to get the win, Wales showed determination throughout, reducing Ireland's advantage to 10-5 and 15-10 during the match through scores from Savannah Picton-Powell and Seren Singleton. And Hughes, who is currently at Hartpury University, is ready for the challenge that awaits them in Round 2. Wales will be looking to get their first win of the competition over Scotland on Friday (Image: 6Nations Rugby official photo) 'We've looked at writing some of the wrongs from the Ireland game,' the 20-year-old said. 'We know what Scotland can bring. We've had a look at their game against England, and we also had an opportunity to have a training game against them too, so we have a fair idea of what they're about. 'It's going to be a race to win the physical battle and to see who puts in the first big hit to set the tone. 'Us and Scotland are on an even playing field. We both didn't have great games last week, so we're both looking to get our first win. 'Scotland have some really good ball carriers, and we have to be ready to try and counter that.' Hughes, who plays for Gwalia Lightning in the Celtic Challenge, admitted the team has been looking at 'righting a few wrongs' from their performance against Ireland in training, and said their defence 'wasn't quite where [Wales] wanted it to be'. But the Pembrokeshire-native was upbeat about her side's prospects after a positive week and said that being clinical in Scotland's 22 was going to be crucial if they are to take the spoils. '[The team] decided that what didn't go right [against Ireland] are actually easy fixes,' she continued. 'We created a lot of opportunities, so we are doing something right. We moved the ball into the right areas, but the final execution is so important. 'The positive thing is we have got the right intentions; we just need to work on that execution in the 22 to finish our moves off. That'll bring confidence to the team. 'As soon as we let a few points get behind us, I think we mentally dropped a little bit. 'So, getting that head start will be huge. Getting points on the board and allowing the team to have confidence in themselves as a collective is really important.' Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Hughes believes physical battle key to Scotland clash
Wales slipped to a 22-10 defeat against their Ireland Under-20 counterparts while Scotland were downed 31-17 by England. The tournament hosts looked strong early on against Ireland, pinning their opponents inside their own 22 for much of the opening 10 minutes. But despite ultimately failing to get the win, Wales showed determination throughout, reducing Ireland's advantage to 10-5 and 15-10 during the match through scores from Savannah Picton-Powell and Seren Singleton. And Hughes, who is currently at Hartpury University, is ready for the challenge that awaits them in Round 2. Wales will be looking to get their first win of the competition over Scotland on Friday (Image: 6Nations Rugby official photo) 'We've looked at writing some of the wrongs from the Ireland game,' the 20-year-old said. 'We know what Scotland can bring. We've had a look at their game against England, and we also had an opportunity to have a training game against them too, so we have a fair idea of what they're about. 'It's going to be a race to win the physical battle and to see who puts in the first big hit to set the tone. 'Us and Scotland are on an even playing field. We both didn't have great games last week, so we're both looking to get our first win. 'Scotland have some really good ball carriers, and we have to be ready to try and counter that.' Hughes, who plays for Gwalia Lightning in the Celtic Challenge, admitted the team has been looking at 'righting a few wrongs' from their performance against Ireland in training, and said their defence 'wasn't quite where [Wales] wanted it to be'. But the Pembrokeshire-native was upbeat about her side's prospects after a positive week and said that being clinical in Scotland's 22 was going to be crucial if they are to take the spoils. '[The team] decided that what didn't go right [against Ireland] are actually easy fixes,' she continued. 'We created a lot of opportunities, so we are doing something right. We moved the ball into the right areas, but the final execution is so important. 'The positive thing is we have got the right intentions; we just need to work on that execution in the 22 to finish our moves off. That'll bring confidence to the team. 'As soon as we let a few points get behind us, I think we mentally dropped a little bit. 'So, getting that head start will be huge. Getting points on the board and allowing the team to have confidence in themselves as a collective is really important.' Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
The 42
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
IRFU aims to launch contracted women's provinces by 26/27
THE IRFU IS aiming to set the wheels in motion for four contracted women's provincial teams by the start of the 2026/27 season. The union confirmed its intention to move towards four contracted provincial women's sides competing in 'cross-border, season-long tournaments' in its strategic plan last year and has now revealed a target timeline. Currently, two Irish teams compete in the Celtic Challenge, but the IRFU hopes to have four in an expanded version of that competition with Welsh and Scottish sides by 2026. 'We would like the provinces to start to take their first step towards that in the 26/27 season, and that's the project we're working on at the moment,' said IRFU head of women's strategy Lynne Cantwell, a former Ireland player who joined the union earlier this year. 'That won't look all bells and whistles. Even if we look to PWR [Premiership Women's Rugby], PWR started in 2017 and it's 2025 and it's still building and it still hasn't got fully-contracted players by any stretch, but it has a daily training environment that you have 20 hours a week where players are training, have access to full-time coaches, S&C, and competitive games, and that's what we're trying to build. 'So we want the provinces to take that first step on building that from 26/27 onwards. 'We're not too sure we're going to get there. We want to do it responsibly and sustainably – that's the two words we're working on.' Last year, the IRFU positioned women's rugby as a priority in its strategic plan up until 2028, with the appointment of Cantwell a key part of that. Capped 86 times by Ireland, Cantwell was an influential figure in the team that won the 2013 Grand Slam and reached the 2014 World Cup semi-finals. Cantwell was also one of the most prominent names to sign a letter to the Irish government in 2021 from a group of former and current players expressing their loss of all trust and confidence in the IRFU. At that time, Cantwell had started working as the women's high performance manager for the South African Rugby Union and she has also been a board member in Sport Ireland in recent years. Cantwell speaking last week. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Since joining the Irish union in January, she has been leading the rollout of the IRFU's strategy to take women's rugby to another level in the coming years. Advertisement Getting the four contracted provincial teams off the ground will be a big measure in furthering the encouraging progress of the Ireland national team over the past two seasons ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Irish players are still being lured abroad to England, as shown by this year's Six Nations player of the championship, Aoife Wafer, signing for Harlequins for the 2025/26 season. 'I'm delighted for Aoife in a way,' said Cantwell of that move. 'The Irish system has created her and it's great that you have the player of the Six Nations an Irish player and that's been created by Ireland. 'But if you've got an aspirational player while you still have flexibility within your contracting model and you just have the PWR across the water and you have an opportunity there to play with the best teams in the world after a World Cup year, I'm completely in support of her. What she will bring back is lots of IP and drive standards nationally. 'She'll obviously be missed from the two Celtic Challenge teams. But I understand while it's still evolving, if that opportunity knocks on your door to be able to do it, but you're right, you want more of those players to be playing in the Celtic Challenge over the coming years.' Women's rugby is in a major period of development, with unions across the world investing more and new competitions popping up. Cantwell said next year will bring a more formal version of the women's U20 Six Nations. The hope is that sponsors will continue an increased appetite to get involved. The IRFU currently spends around €9 million on women's rugby, with €2 million of revenues coming in, so there is a big gap to make up in the coming years. 'It's really significant now, the investment going into the game, especially over the last three years,' said Cantwell. 'It's nearly a 300% increase in the last three years. 'It's significant that there's €2 million coming in from a sponsorship point of view, that's really significant. What we have to do is build out the commercial portfolio to be able to attract more sponsors, get them on board and connect with the growth story and try and increase revenues over the next couple of years to try and close that delta. 'Although there's been more significant investment, there's so much more to go. We recognise it's a really competitive market. The opportunity is it's coming in at a low base and there's so much room to grow.' Cantwell believes the upcoming World Cup, which kicks off in August, will be game-changing for the women's game, particularly in Ireland. 'It's on your doorstep,' she said. 'It's going to break every record under the sun and Ireland have the potential to feel that bounce.' Key to Irish rugby capitalising on the World Cup bounce is developing the game below the high-performance level. Ireland back row Aoife Wafer. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO This is perhaps the key project for Cantwell in her role. That huge upturn in investment in the women's game has led to a dramatic improvement at the top of the chain, but there is a lot of work to be done in the grassroots. Cantwell has been spending much of her initial time in the role getting a greater understanding of where the Irish women's pathway stands. 'How do we elevate the game profile-wise so that more girls pick up a rugby ball, that they go to their local rugby club and have a positive experience, that there's a game for them and a pathway for them doesn't stop when they're 12 and come back at 16, that there's hygienic facilities and kit that fits them, a competition and a coach that teaches them the game?' said Cantwell. Already, she is seeing positive signs. 'Where the women's game in Ireland is really showing up is in non-traditional areas, places like Wicklow, Ballincollig, Clonakilty, Barnhall, Enniskillen, non-traditionally thriving clubs.' Yet, as things stand, only 23 clubs in Ireland have a full pathway for girls and women's rugby from minis up to senior rugby. 163 of all 217 clubs in Ireland have a women's or girls' team, while there is only 15% female representation on all club boards. In this sense, the IRFU has set a target of 200 new girls and women's teams launching in the coming years, mainly within clubs to fill in those holes in pathways. 'We've seen in our retention stats is if you have a full pathway, girls won't drop out,' said Cantwell. 'If you have more girls within your section, girls won't drop out or will drop out at a lower pace. 'So a lot of that work is in clubs – how do we work with clubs on understanding where you recruit from? How do you have an inclusive experience? How do you get more volunteers so that the girls are catered for? How do you have a competition?' There are other holes. Just 8% of all medical research in the sporting world is about female athletes, explains Cantwell, so there are lots of questions to be answered in that regard. Cantwell is determined to get the answers and see the game grow. 'We're in a young space, absolutely we are, Irish rugby and just globally as well we are, but wouldn't it be a wonderful place to be when we understand those things in the next 20 years.'
