My plea to WRU: Don’t cut great clubs like Neath adrift

WHEN I was a player, boardroom politics weren’t my thing. My only priority was what happened on the field and performing as best as I could so that my team could be as successful as possible.

In my career there seemed to always be something to discuss away from the pitch and that’s no different now, though I must admit my attitudes to Welsh rugby politics have changed somewhat.

Having my own business in retirement has opened my eyes to a different world and that’s why I was delighted this week to read the news of a major reform of the Welsh Rugby Union board.

I know from my own business experience how important decision making is and in Wales it doesn’t get much bigger or more important than the WRU, certainly in sporting circles.

I can see why the proposal to cut the numbers on the WRU board was controversial, but in time I think we will look back on the decision to do exactly that as a seminal moment in Welsh rugby.

WRU chairman Gareth Davies deserves a great deal of credit for pushing this change through despite initial rejection and it could yet have a big impact on the game in Wales.

Cutting the numbers on the board from 20 to no more than 12 might mean some people lose out on a prestigious role, but it’s for the greater good in terms of Welsh rugby.

The immediate thing I thought of when I read the news is how a board restructuring could yet have an impact on who will be the next Wales coach.

Finding a successor to Warren Gatland after the 2019 World Cup is the biggest decision the WRU face in the next 18 months and in my view streamlined decision making can help that process.

Whoever chief executive Martyn Phillips and the rest of the powerbrokers decide on for the job, voting on such an important issue won’t be easy. The new board system – should it be officially ratified in the months ahead – will speed up that process.

The issue of deciding on the next Wales coach was the issue that jumped straight into my mind when I read of the WRU’s board plans, but of course there is also a much bigger picture to all this.

I must also applaud the decision to implement a new Community Rugby Council alongside two distinct sub boards which will represent both the club and the professional game.

Focusing on the community game and the grassroots level is vitally important in Welsh rugby but in what has been a big week for Welsh rugby, I do worry about what’s going on at our clubs.

Wales’ grassroots teams are the beating heart of the game and I do worry about how the restructuring of the Principality Premiership will impact on some of our most famous sides.

Alongside the board restructuring which was announced this week, I must admit to having concerns over plans to cut the number of teams in the Premiership moving forwards.

What will it mean for my former side Neath? What about famous outfits like Swansea, Newport and Cardiff ? These teams have achieved amazing things down the years and must not be cast aside.

I understand the need to change things around at the level below the regions in order to provide our professional sides with the best players possible.

I actually think regional U23 sides will be of benefit from 2019 in terms of giving our young talent the chance to shine, but what about teams like Neath?

Picking out my former side might see me being accused of giving them special treatment, but I think the Welsh All Blacks are a good example to use because they’re really at risk of falling out of existence. That can’t be allowed to happen.

Cutting the Premiership from 16 clubs to 12 is controversial and the four teams which do end up dropping into the Championship are sure to face plenty of problems.

If Neath lose, or are forced to settle for less funding from the WRU, that will lead to problems in terms of paying for the Gnoll, their playing squad and a whole load of other issues.

Neath are rock bottom of the Premiership and without a win in the second half of the season. Some people might say they don’t deserve to stay in the division based on their performances and they might have a point.

But clubs like Neath have helped bring through Wales internationals in years gone by – myself and Adam Jones among them – and have achieved great success.

My message to the WRU is please don’t cut them adrift. Welsh rugby would be all the poorer without teams like Neath and other clubs of proud historical heritage competing at their highest possible level.

“Neath have helped bring through Wales internationals like myself and Adam Jones”