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<blockquote data-quote="Melhor Time" data-source="post: 365007" data-attributes="member: 20116"><p>Looking back, its been over a decade since the Rugby World Cup was hosted in Wales and since Wales got their first even win over South Africa. It was also the only time when Wales has topped its Pool in a Rugby World Cup and was a Quarter Finalists after missing out oat the previous two tournaments. Four historical moments which occured before restructuring occured in Welsh rugby. </p><p> </p><p>Before the restructuring Wales had its own domestic championship with 9 teams. Today there is not one - not professionally at least. </p><p> </p><p>Welsh rugby went under the knife. 9 teams were cut to five - Scarlets, Ospreys, Celtic Warriors, Cardiff and Dragons and the domestic championship dropped down the rankings. After one season the Warriors were cut too making it four teams. Teams were forced to merge. The original idea of merging what today is the <strong>Scarlets</strong> and <strong>Ospreys</strong> was the idea. Thankfully it never happened. These two sides tell an interesting story. Llanelli is not a big city at all. There are larger ones in the Scalets region. The Scarlets and Ospreys have done well by importing players cheaply from across Wales and internationally. </p><p> </p><p>Looking at it, how many of the Ospreys stars are from the region.... Ryan Jones is from the Dragons region, Tommy Bowe is Irish, Jerry Collins is a Samoan Kiwi, etc. These two have grabbed the bull by the horns and have new stadiums and have really shown that the original idea was poor. <strong>Cardiff</strong> have not had great success but have a new stadium and are good in the ML but up and down in the Heineken Cup. The <strong>Dragons</strong> were always going to have a team - unlike Scarlets and Ospreys, but the Dragons have been the worst performing Welsh side and today clearly are behind. </p><p> </p><p>Has the objective been achieved. Ala, does Wales have a better national side at the expense of a reduced domestic set up. Its open to debate. Looking at it, Wales have 2 Grand Slam 6 Nations ***les since the changes. Then again, Wales were at their best in RWC 2003 which was before the restructuring whilst RWC 2007 was a disaster and was after the changes. In the Heineken Cup progress has been made but no team has won or made the final. Possibly the Scarlets were better before the changes.... Welsh readers can certainly contribute more than I can. </p><p> </p><p>Some questions:</p><p> </p><p>1. <strong>Celtic Warriors</strong>. What exactly went wrong. They were competitive on the field. Why were they disbanded.</p><p> </p><p><strong>2. Are four teams enough</strong>. NZ has 5 in Super Rugby and more than double in its domestic championship. </p><p> </p><p>3. Are teams looking after <strong>the interests of Welsh rugby</strong>. Ospreys have Hook and Biggar. The Dragons have vastly inferior players and Cardiff have a Scottish flyhalf. Hook is leaving for France....</p><p> </p><p>4. <strong>North Wales</strong>. Ignored eternally or should a team be created overtime based in Wrexham. The original idean included a team based there.</p><p> </p><p>5. <strong>Wales improving</strong>. Are Wales getting better based on the changes or not.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Melhor Time, post: 365007, member: 20116"] Looking back, its been over a decade since the Rugby World Cup was hosted in Wales and since Wales got their first even win over South Africa. It was also the only time when Wales has topped its Pool in a Rugby World Cup and was a Quarter Finalists after missing out oat the previous two tournaments. Four historical moments which occured before restructuring occured in Welsh rugby. Before the restructuring Wales had its own domestic championship with 9 teams. Today there is not one - not professionally at least. Welsh rugby went under the knife. 9 teams were cut to five - Scarlets, Ospreys, Celtic Warriors, Cardiff and Dragons and the domestic championship dropped down the rankings. After one season the Warriors were cut too making it four teams. Teams were forced to merge. The original idea of merging what today is the [B]Scarlets[/B] and [B]Ospreys[/B] was the idea. Thankfully it never happened. These two sides tell an interesting story. Llanelli is not a big city at all. There are larger ones in the Scalets region. The Scarlets and Ospreys have done well by importing players cheaply from across Wales and internationally. Looking at it, how many of the Ospreys stars are from the region.... Ryan Jones is from the Dragons region, Tommy Bowe is Irish, Jerry Collins is a Samoan Kiwi, etc. These two have grabbed the bull by the horns and have new stadiums and have really shown that the original idea was poor. [B]Cardiff[/B] have not had great success but have a new stadium and are good in the ML but up and down in the Heineken Cup. The [B]Dragons[/B] were always going to have a team - unlike Scarlets and Ospreys, but the Dragons have been the worst performing Welsh side and today clearly are behind. Has the objective been achieved. Ala, does Wales have a better national side at the expense of a reduced domestic set up. Its open to debate. Looking at it, Wales have 2 Grand Slam 6 Nations ***les since the changes. Then again, Wales were at their best in RWC 2003 which was before the restructuring whilst RWC 2007 was a disaster and was after the changes. In the Heineken Cup progress has been made but no team has won or made the final. Possibly the Scarlets were better before the changes.... Welsh readers can certainly contribute more than I can. Some questions: 1. [B]Celtic Warriors[/B]. What exactly went wrong. They were competitive on the field. Why were they disbanded. [B]2. Are four teams enough[/B]. NZ has 5 in Super Rugby and more than double in its domestic championship. 3. Are teams looking after [B]the interests of Welsh rugby[/B]. Ospreys have Hook and Biggar. The Dragons have vastly inferior players and Cardiff have a Scottish flyhalf. Hook is leaving for France.... 4. [B]North Wales[/B]. Ignored eternally or should a team be created overtime based in Wrexham. The original idean included a team based there. 5. [B]Wales improving[/B]. Are Wales getting better based on the changes or not. [/QUOTE]
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