It’s time to ditch Blues and focus on Cardiff – Norman
CARDIFF Blues have been urged to ditch the Blues name and focus firmly on the heritage and tradition of Cardiff rugby.
That’s the strong message from Cardiff RFC chairman Chris Norman, who feels the Cardiff name has been diluted during the regional era.
Norman has been encouraged by the comments from Blues chairman Alun Jones in a recent interview he gave to Wales-Online.
In that, Jones said he recognised the fact fans wanted to see Cardiff brought more to the fore.
Now Norman is eager to see action taken, with the dropping of the Blues tag and the reintroduction of the old blue-and-black kit.
He would like to see the regional team renamed Cardiff Rugby, with the semi-pro Premiership side he is chairman of being called Cardiff Athletic and serving as the club’s second team.
“When I saw your piece with Alun, I thought that was brilliant. I was so relieved,” said Norman.
“The message now is ‘show us what you have got’.
“To get the city of Cardiff on board, drop the Blues name.
“There were more than 4,000 members of the Cardiff Athletic Club rugby section back in the day. There are 650 now. That’s a huge loss.
“We know some Cardiff rugby people walked away when it became a region.
“The Blues name probably ostracised Cardiff people more than it brought people in from the valleys. I would definitely say that.
“I know a lot of Cardiff rugby people weren’t interested anymore.
“I feel we gave up something that was far too much.
“The Cardiff name has been diluted.
“To be fair to the board, it was the pressure put on them by the WRU, it’s obvious.
“Who in their right minds would give up the biggest name in Welsh rugby, possibly in world rugby?
“You wouldn’t would you, unless you were forced to?
“Why would you walk past the biggest population in Wales?
“You can sense they have had to say certain things over the years, to say we are regional.
“We lost our identity as a result, which was a big shame.
“A lot of people were dismayed and hurt that Cardiff was taken away from them. The great thing about Pontypridd is they have got a clear identity.
“So why can’t we have our identity?”
Norman is clear in his mind over what he ideally wants to hear from the board of the pro team.
“I would like to see them give a very Cardiff approach to the way going forward,” he said.
“If the new Cardiff become Cardiff Rugby Club, then the second team could be called the Athletic, as back in the day.
“I am not sure I like the word rebranding. I see it as Cardiff coming home. That’s the way I look at it.
“I need to see their proposal, I don’t know the detail, but I know they are working on something and I got a lot of positive signals from what Alun said in his interview.
“I would be quite comfortable with Cardiff Rugby playing in the PRO14 and Cardiff Athletic playing in the Premiership.
“I would love to see Super Saturdays with both sides playing at the Arms Park.
“It’s not just the name. Is there a new shirt, is there a new badge, I don’t know.
“They need to integrate more to the city and spread the Cardiff rugby gospel.
“I would love to see the first team back in the old blue and black and both teams wearing the same shirt.
“When I was a schoolboy, we all wore the same shirts.
“I played for both sides in the 1980s and there was nothng better than earning the right to play for the firsts.
“It was such a successful route, why would you tinker with it?
“Even though it sounds romantic, what’s wrong with being romantic?
“People who haven’t been there for 20 years are saying they are so excited to come back. There is huge interest in this.”
Norman doesn’t believe a name change would have any negative impact on the regional development pathway that operates in the valleys.
“I don’t believe the rugby would change at all,” he said.
“There has always been a pathway on the A470.
“You know the players will continue to come down from the valleys.”
The former winger believes the kind of changes he has outlined could only be helpful when it comes to resolving the issue of the lease on the Arms Park.
Cardiff Blues’ lease on the famous old ground – which is owned by Cardiff Athletic Club – expires in 2022.
“It would obviously help the situation if we are together rather than fighting with each other,” he said.
“If you have got unity in rugby, it has got to be a good thing.
“I think everybody wants the best. “We have obviously lost a year over Covid and the clock is ticking on the lease.
“But the unity is all positive and I am absolutely thrilled.
“It’s the best news I have had for a long time. I just want our Cardiff back.
“It’s always been about the protection of the name.
“Cardiff RFC is 146 years old. We are the torchbearers of that history.
“I am really looking forward now to the next chapter in the story.”