Regions should open talks with CVC - Moffett
WALES’ four regions have been told to cut their losses and attempt to form an Anglo-Welsh league with the 12 Premiership clubs as they continue to battle crippling financial uncertainty.
The advice comes from former WRU chief executive David Moffett, who believes Cardiff Blues, Ospreys, Scarlets and Dragons must seek to get their teeth into the investment of more than £200million which was recently invested into the Premiership by CVC Capital Partners.
The WRU and the regions are locked in talks over how the game will be run in Wales moving forward, but Moffett believes a better option lies over the Severn Bridge.
“Over the next ten years we need to work really hard on the English and get an Anglo-Welsh league which then leaves Scotland and Ireland out in the cold,” Moffett told TRP.
“There’s very little support for the regions as they’re currently set-up. Rugby is in real trouble across the world other than in France and England where they’ve got really wealthy benefactors. The regions should definitely open talks with CVC.
“Wales have historically always been aligned with England, so why can’t they do it in rugby? After they get an Anglo-Welsh league, they should go for a British league.
“The best outcome would be a European league of three divisions with promotion and relegation. Soccer would love to have a pan European league, but they’ll never get it. Rugby could have it tomorrow.”
Wales’ regions remain in limbo with a funding model and an agreement over how the country’s best players will be paid still to officially be agreed.
Moffett – who implemented the controversial change from club to regional rugby during his time at the helm of the WRU – believes the governing body are fighting a losing battle.
He added: “The WRU and the regions are trying to organise something which will allow them to compete financially with France and England. That will never happen! It’s a fallacy in the next ten years for them to be trying to chase success in Europe and spending millions doing it.”