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yeah I feel this gets reported once every other yearUntil there's a spurious WOL article I won't believe it.
True, though generous. They usually run one once a month or so.yeah I feel this gets reported once every other year
1. try me*I'd also say you surely can't mourn the demise of 1 URC franchise AND say you'd like to go back to the old clubs. "The demise of 1 club is so horrible, let's nuke all 4!"
Like most issues similar to this do you look long term and accept it will take a while but potentially lead to something more concrete or try to do a short term fix and hope you can build from there. Tbh this plan sounds very short term. It's all focused on less money so less teams, which will then put off supporters so less money and less teams and it's just a downward spiral. Going backwards can be a catalyst for growth if there is a plan in place behind it, but it seems the WRU is more concerned with surviving the next few years, let alone what might happen in the next 10.I think this is innevetable tbh, just not enough supporters to go around, and a void of players in certain positions.
Imo this only works though if the existing regions are rebranded somewhat with East Wales (despite what some think, this has to be based in Cardiff), West Wales (Swansea would make most sense, population wise, but Llanelli have the stadium), then I'd love to seee the Valleys finally represented again, but is it too spread-out to sustain a region? Warriors didn't end well last time around!
Proper plans would need to be put in place to eventually return to 4 regions, with North Wales an obvious place to base it..
It would all need to sit alongside a complete overhaul of the Welsh prem and academies as well. The quality of the prem would need increasing to offset the loss of a region. The 30 odd players missing out on regional contracts would be an immediate stimulus as long as they can be kept in Wales and not lost to lower leagues in England/France.
Whatever happens, I just think it needs to extend further than simply culling a region. E.g. if Dragons are culled, does it make sense that 2/3 of of the regions left are located 10miles apart either side of the Loughor? If Scarlets and Ospreys are merged, does it make sense that Dragons, consistently the worst performing region based a stones throw from Cardiff is retained?
What about the valleys who have felt alienated for 20 years? What about mid and north Wales? With no region performing/delivering now is the time to address these issues and do things properly as none of them can demand a god damn thing because they're all ******* **** atm!
I like the current URC 16 team format (although I doubted it at first) and would hate to see any of them get dropped.
We Are Warriors!
What about a full British League.Full European leagues makes me want to be sick.
The WRU also can't afford that amount of contracts.
Anglo welsh league is ergh thinking about it but it might be the only way for the England to get a 2 10 team leagues that are fully pro funded.
13 PRL teams + 3 Welsh teams + Ealing, Doncaster, Jersey and Cornish Pirates. would be bearable.
Maybe Ireland could add another team in there franchises split dublin up (Prays)