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Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Welsh four regions system 'unsustainable' as struggling union opens talks aimed at radical change
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The Welsh Rugby Union said on Monday its current system with four regional clubs was "financially unsustainable" as it announced formal talks aiming to restructure the domestic professional game by the 2027-28 season. The WRU cited a lack of on-field success as the primary reason behind it considering a "radical strategy" to improve the sport, saying the decision was taken after 18 months of extensive work, including consultation with the clubs and players. "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 WRU said in a statement. "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." Four professional clubs -- Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons -- represent Wales in the United Rugby Championship. No Welsh side has won the competition since 2016-17. Cardiff, the largest of the four, entered administration in April after owners Helford Capital failed to meet its funding obligations. The Wales national team ended an 18-match losing streak with a victory over Japan on Saturday, but remain outside the top 10 in world rankings after high-margin losses to France and England this year. "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 WRU added. REUTERS
ITV News
6 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Major changes to Welsh rugby as WRU proposes cutting number of regions
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has launched a consultation over a major shakeup to Welsh rugby that could cut regional clubs from the current four to three or two. The restructure would be carried out in time for the 2027/28 season. The consultation with the sides - Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff Rugby and Dragons - will take place over August and September along with the involvement of other stakeholders. The WRU says it "does not see the system continuing with the current model of four equally funded regional clubs in the senior men's game," adding the current setup "isn't delivering consistent success on the field and isn't currently financially sustainable given the likely investment required". They went on to say they are "considering a more radical strategy focused on maximising investment and reforming the whole structure of professional rugby in Wales." The WRU says the proposed changes would allow "a significant investment in player development and pathways" and a new national centre to develop coaches and support staff. 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 Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Rugby-Welsh four regions system 'unsustainable' as struggling union opens talks aimed at radical change
(Reuters) -The Welsh Rugby Union said on Monday its current system with four regional clubs was "financially unsustainable" as it announced formal talks aiming to restructure the domestic professional game by the 2027-28 season. The WRU cited a lack of on-field success as the primary reason behind it considering a "radical strategy" to improve the sport, saying the decision was taken after 18 months of extensive work, including consultation with the clubs and players. "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 WRU said in a statement. "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." Four professional clubs -- Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons -- represent Wales in the United Rugby Championship. No Welsh side has won the competition since 2016-17. Cardiff, the largest of the four, entered administration in April after owners Helford Capital failed to meet its funding obligations. The Wales national team ended an 18-match losing streak with a victory over Japan on Saturday, but remain outside the top 10 in world rankings after high-margin losses to France and England this year. "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 WRU added. (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in BengaluruEditing by Christian Radnedge)
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
WRU confirm radical changes to Welsh rugby coming in major announcement
WRU confirm radical changes to Welsh rugby coming in major announcement Welsh rugby is set for seismic change not seen since the inception of regional rugby in 2003 Welsh rugby is set for seismic changes (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The Welsh Rugby Union has announced it intends to implement a radical restructuring of the professional game in Wales for the 2026/27 season, which could see the number of professional teams reduced. A consultation process between the WRU, the four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - and other key stakeholders will take place over August and September. The consultation will cover the entire high-performance framework from pathways to professional club structure and the senior men's and women's game. Key potential developments to be consulted on include: 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 further investment in the SRC to strengthen the semi-professional game in Wales. a significant investment in player development and pathways a national centre providing a place of development for our elite players, coaches and support staff Article continues below the best rugby leadership and decision-making model for the whole of the professional game in Wales our professional sides being home to both our men's and women's teams the funding model to underpin success, to ensure that the new model is financially sustainable and that teams are long term investable propositions in partnership with the WRU. The WRU say the current 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. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. 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. Prior to last Saturday's 31-22 victory over Japan in Kobe, Wales had lost a record 18 Test matches in a row, while the four professional clubs have been starved of success for a number of years. On top of this Wales has only one representative on the current British & Irish Lions tour of Japan, Jac Morgan, although scrum-half Tomos Williams was a member of the squad before picking up an injury. Initially the WRU said it wanted to retain four professional teams and were adamant it had the required funding to make all successful, but they have changed their stance. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free This situation stemmed from the Ospreys and Scarlets refusing to join the Dragons in signing the new Professional Rugby Agreement after the WRU's takeover of Cardiff following the capital city club entering administration. As a result the WRU activated the two-year notice clause on the old PRA, which both Ospreys and Scarlets, are operating under. But the WRU have decided there needs to be radical changes in the way the professional game is structured for Welsh rugby to achieve sustained success once more. The WRU is seeking to introduce changes in this way because of the current status of its senior men's professional game, acknowledging that: Welsh rugby has experienced a deterioration in performance on and off the field and, statistically, has just had its worst season ever in its senior men's game. all stakeholders want Welsh rugby to be successful at all levels of the game stakeholders understandably have different perspectives and must prioritise their own interests by default solutions have not yet emerged through consensus. WRU CEO Abi Tierney will seek the WRU boards approval of strategy for consultation and the commencement of the formal consultation period in August while in September there will be a consultation and engagement process. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Then in October the intention is for the WRU board to approve the new strategy while also announcing the new structure of the professional game to all stakeholders. Article continues below
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
BBC Sport pundits on Wales' long-awaited win
The wait is finally over… Wales secured a much needed victory after a dismal run stretching back 644 days. Wales' 31-22 win over Japan in Kobe levelled the series 1-1 but more importantly ended an 18-Test losing streak. Advertisement Matt Sherratt's side withheld a spirited second-half Japan comeback and the tourists had reason to celebrate for the first time in 21 months. Wales' previous win was against Georgia in the 2023 World Cup, and it was a welcome victory in the fifth and final game in charge for interim head coach Sherratt. The Welsh Rugby Union's appointment of a permanent successor to Warren Gatland, who stepped down during the Six Nations, is expected in the next few weeks. The new appointment will now not be burdened by the losing streak but will face a tough task transforming the fortunes of Welsh rugby, beginning with a tough Autumn series which features New Zealand, South Africa, Japan and Argentina as opponents. Advertisement BBC Sport pundits had their say on the long-awaited win in Japan and what next for Welsh rugby. 'Relief. Pure relief' Ex-Wales international James Hook told the Scrum V podcast: "Relief, that's the word isn't it, relief. I saw Dewi Lake's interview at the end it's just pure relief. "You could see it on the players and Matt Sherratt's face at the end, and they nearly threw it away in the second-half, but they found a way to win didn't they. "When Japan scored those two tries I said 'here we go again' but they found a way to win and that's all that matters in the end. Advertisement "Come September we need a couple of key building blocks in place, we need a head coach. "The regions, whether we're going to lose a region, go down to two, go down to three, whatever it is, that needs to be sorted. "You don't expect it to happen overnight but something needs to be done in the next couple of months. "The autumn's going to be a tough campaign, New Zealand and South Africa aren't going to be quaking in their boots after that performance." 'New slate for the incoming coach... whoever that may be' Former Wales captain Gwyn Jones on the Scrum V podcast: "It's massive. They came off last week and you just wanted to give them a hug. Advertisement "You felt so sorry for them, they'd come so close – 'when is this ever going to end?'. "That's the most important thing, the narrative has to change, the headlines have to change now. "The series of losses has gone, it's a new slate for the incoming coach, whoever that may be. "We're getting closer to World Cup time, that shouldn't cloud our decision making too much. "But the team needs a proper head coach and a coaching team around that can work together with the regions. "It will be constantly spoken about until the decision is made, and then that's always going to drive the narrative. Advertisement "For the players themselves, if they don't know their future how can they commit to what they're doing. "There's no tight timescale for it, but you do expect it to happen over the next two months, you'd expect something to be announced." 'You've got to give credit to those boys' Former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert told BBC Radio Wales' Rob and Molly show: "Wales going through this run of not being able to win, it's a habit that sticks with you and the pressure builds and builds. "You could see it last week. This week they just seemed to manage it a lot better. Advertisement "You've got to give credit to those boys, they've had such a tough year. "Someone like Aaron Wainwright has not won a game of rugby this year - it is good to see and just to get that monkey off their back. "Whoever comes in now doesn't have that hanging around their neck like Matt Sherratt said. "To get the win, for me now it's a complete clean slate, it's a new era at Welsh Rugby." 'Enjoy the moment... but a lot of work to do' Former Wales captain Ken Owens on S4C's Y Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol: "Credit to the players, they've found a way to win, and that's what was important at this point. Advertisement "To be fair, right in the middle of the second half Wales were under a lot of pressure, Japan raised their game. "But in the last five minutes Wales found something and they found a way to win and scored a great try at the end. "You need to celebrate this, it's been a very hard couple of years for the players, especially with what's happening at the regions. "There were a lot of good aspects to the game and also a lot of things to learn from. "The young players will gain valuable experience. "We won't now be talking about the run of losing games and we have to enjoy this moment, but realise there's a lot of work to do within the game."
