AND WALES SELF-IMPLODE

FURY AS WALES’ GRAND SLAM BID PLUNGED INTO TURMOIL BY ‘CHAOTIC’ RESET PLAN

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FA71 47 0 89 49 2 68 61 1 54 78 2 56 69 1 51 85 0 12 10 9 6 5 0 WARREN GATLAND’S Grand Slam plans have been blown apart by the “chaotic” proposal to restructure Welsh rugby.

Wales lead the Six Nations by two points and wins over Scotland and Ireland would bring a first Slam for six years.

Yet rather than focus on Saturday’s trip to Murrayfield, many players fear for their futures. As part of ‘Project Reset’, Scarlets and Ospreys are expected to merge, with a new team created in North Wales.

The news has thrown Wales’ national sport into turmoil with star forward Ken Owens, one of 13 players in the squad who play for the affected regions, admitting: “This is the most challenging of situations that I or arguably any player has faced during our rugby careers. I am deeply concerned.”

Gatland has every right to be apoplectic at the scheme, announced in the wake of his team’s epic victory over England.

Six Nations success is vital to momentum leading into this autumn’s World Cup and Wales are in a perfect spot after a national record 12th consecutive win.

Or rather they were before a turn of events which prompted Ospreys chairman Mike James to resign yesterday, saying: “The way in which this has been handled is nothing short of chaotic, resulting in a fatal combination of uncertainty, conjecture and insecurity now hanging over regional rugby’s future.

“To methodically, rationally and impartially map out the future of regional rugby is one thing, to fatally wound it with an ill-judged, cavalier process is another.”

Gatland (left) admitted: “The players have been distracted. It is concerning.”

But the Ospreys last night denied they were about to merge with Scarlets, adding: “The way this has been approached has led to a fundamental breakdown in the fabric of the game. This must stop now.” BAD BOY Nick Kyrgios is the latest big name to sign up for the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club this summer.

Kyrgios (right) said: “One of my good mates Andy Murray won the title five times there, so that shows how important it is. The courts suit my game.”