WRU confirm they want to reduce to two pro teams

[higgik]

Wales has too many grass roots clubs, they need to merge so the money can be netter spent. Some villages have 2 or 3 clubs and struggle to put out teams and survive when if they merged they would have a solid reserves set up and the overheads on just one venue (for example).

The professional game in my opinion should keep the 4 teams, that was a horrible decision mad in the past that we now have to live with.

2 of the teams should be WRU owned and play in the URC, the other 2 should be fully privatised and apply for the English pyramid. We will then see which model is best, or have our cake and eat it.

No 2 pro teams with WRU stepped contracts.
The rest should go to an improved SRC with clubs getting stronger players, (squad players from the current pro teams).
This would generate more interest in the domestic club game, which in turn would get more interest in the URC teams.
These would also be stronger and more competitive, so people more likely to watch.
As long as games did not clash, then both could thrive.

 

[Vaquer]

Franchises have no place in English rugby and would generate little interest.

What's the difference when both leagues are ringfenced?

 

[Rinkadink]

What's the difference when both leagues are ringfenced?

PREM rugby isn't ring fenced.

 

[Which Tyler]

PREM rugby isn't ring fenced yet.

FTFY.

Of course, as and when it does eventually ring-fence, it will lose a lot of supporters - though probably not enough to actually make a difference. I, for example, would switch my support to Clermont and Nevers in France, as Ali's closest teams

 

[McTallshort]

Why don't the two remaining Welsh sides stay in the URC?

 

[Rinkadink]

Worcester will probably get promoted, Ealing should have been already. Doncaster have the planning in place, just waiting on equality upon promotion (equal funding) - that will happen before ring fencing. There are other mumblings I heard yesterday as well regarding other champ teams.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Why don't the two remaining Welsh sides stay in the URC?

Because we’ll dominate the league and none of them other teams will stand a chance. Cardiff already smashed Leinster in pre season so it’s nailed on.

I may or may not have had a drink this morning.

 

[McTallshort]

 

[SéniorHuevo]

As an outsider I still have no rational idea why the Welsh teams aren't in the Prem. If they can't sell out every Cardiff game with that and probably a sell out at the Millennium Stadium Vs Bristol then people need to find another job.

 

[Brown Bottle]

As an outsider I still have no rational idea why the Welsh teams aren't in the Prem. If they can't sell out every Cardiff game with that and probably a sell out at the Millennium Stadium Vs Bristol then people need to find another job.

Because the Prem doesn't want them in it? It's not up to the Welsh teams, after all.

 

[SéniorHuevo]

Because the Prem doesn't want them in it? It's not up to the Welsh teams, after all.

Oh I know that but that's why I said rational. Overnight the Prem becomes a more interesting well attended League with big cross border derbies every week and would re-engage a lot of Welsh fans. Not sure what logical reason there is from Prem to keep Welsh teams out.

 

[Brown Bottle]

Oh I know that but that's why I said rational. Overnight the Prem becomes a more interesting well attended League with big cross border derbies every week and would re-engage a lot of Welsh fans. Not sure what logical reason there is from Prem to keep Welsh teams out.

Well, I'm not even sure it's rational. Firstly, the Welsh clubs won't add much to the attendance other than extra fixtures - English clubs from the Champ would do that. Secondly, the only clubs whose supporters seem to be keen are Bristol, Bath and Gloucester because the Welsh clubs are relatively local to them; for the rest there's no great interest.

 

[Rinkadink]

Oh I know that but that's why I said rational. Overnight the Prem becomes a more interesting well attended League with big cross border derbies every week and would re-engage a lot of Welsh fans. Not sure what logical reason there is from Prem to keep Welsh teams out.

How much extra would it cost in central funding and similar? Would the RFU be paying as well or WRU? What about academies and EQP squad stuff?

 

[stus768]

How much extra would it cost in central funding and similar? Would the RFU be paying as well or WRU? What about academies and EQP squad stuff?

The welsh clubs wouldn’t get central funding from the RFU. It would be better for the current English teams from this perspective because you would be increasing your number of home games providing extra revenue without slicing up the central revenue between more teams.

 

[Rinkadink]

The welsh clubs wouldn't get central funding from the RFU.

The RFU pay prem clubs for being in the competition and a payout from PRL. How much should the Welsh clubs get if they join the Prem?

 

[stus768]

The RFU pay prem clubs for being in the competition and a payout from PRL. How much should the Welsh clubs get if they join the Prem?

They pay English clubs to produce English players. Why would they have to pay welsh teams just because they’re in the premiership? I don’t think welsh teams would be required to meet minimum EQP quotas either.

 

[Rinkadink]

They pay English clubs to produce English players. Why would they have to pay welsh teams just because they're in the premiership? I don't think welsh teams would be required to meet minimum EQP quotas either.

Clubs get paid to play in the PREM.

The league has rules about minimum EQP as well.

 

[stus768]

Clubs get paid to play in the PREM.

The league has rules about minimum EQP as well.

But the point is to support English rugby. They’d obviously exclude the welsh it if they added their teams. Welsh would have to agree to join on lesser terms, and potentially buy in similar to the Saffa teams when they first joined URC.

 

[SéniorHuevo]

Alot on here so try and take bits. No I don't think the RFU pay for Welsh Teams , I think the Welsh teams use the WRU money to play in a league that generates far more crowds for Welsh teams and far more eyeballs from sponsors or commercial partners in England if they are in.
I am not sure it is only 3 clubs who would like it as I think the interest both sides of the border would spike were we to have it but let's say it is only 3 teams well that's a third of a league there already and I am sure Cardiff Vs teams in London would do alright as well.
It would be massive boost to visibility both sides of the border for the sport I feel and that could only help as the CVC money is gone and that TV deal needs something special to help it climb to stop the bleeding on all sides of the border.
But as I say, I am not an expert and others closer to the ground may disagree.

 

[dullonien]

I want to reflect for a minute on Scarlets after their innept start to the season. They had a good end to last season, but otherwise they've been a poor side for a number of years now. The same, or worse, can definitely be said about the Dragons too, but what I'm more concerned about at the Scarlets is what appears to be a complete lack of homegrown players coming through their systems.

They have a ton of foreign born players on their books, many have become Welsh qualified, but that doesn't change the fact that they were partly, or wholly, developed by others. Here's their current squad grouped.

Developed by the region:
Archie Hughes, Dan Davis, Dane Blacker, Eddie James, Gareth Davies, Harri O'connor, Ioan Nicholas, Jac Price, Jarrod Taylor, Joe Roberts, Josh Macleod, Kemsley Mathias, Macs Page, Ryan Elias, Tom Rogers, Tomi Lewis


Developed by others:
Alec Hepburn, Archer Holz, Blair Murray, Ellis Mee, Henry Thomas, Jake Ball, Joe Hawkins, Johnny Williams, Mernus Van Der Merwe, Max Douglas, Sam Costellow, Sam Louis, Taine Plumtree, Tristan Davies

Most of their starting 15 haven't come through the Scarlets system, and when you look at the players that have, many aren't good enough, or still unproven.

Go back 10+ years and Scarlets were packed full of homegrown international players.

Dragons are probably a bit better, but still not great. At least Cardiff and Ospreys can mostly demonstrate strong player development pathways, even if they could still be better.