WRU must regulate the game to benefit all clubs

WRU chairman Gareth Davies says he cannot fathom payment to players by community rugby clubs (CRC). This amounts to a tacit admission that he and the WRU have failed to govern the game as required.

If a CRC is solvent and has sufficient income streams why shouldn’t they pay their players? For Mr Davies to ask them to stop is tantamount to a clear restraint of trade. Such an ineffectual and insipid statement is a dereliction of duty.

Mr Davies has admitted there is a problem with clubs paying wages that they cannot afford, and this is the case for the professional regions as well, so I suggest he starts by sorting out the problem he outlines at the top of the game before berating the CRC’s.

Get the regions to live within their means and lead by example first, and not plea for the CRC’s to solve his problem for him, that’s what he is paid to do – regulate the game in Wales.

If Welsh rugby is to grow it is through the CRC’s, and not via regions or international rugby. And it must involve increased regulation from the WRU.

If CRC’s are to stop paying players then the WRU needs to support them by providing more funding for facilities that generate revenue, such as all-weather pitches and club upgrades that are attractive places for wedding functions, corporate events etc.

The main reason for paying players is the race to finish top of the pile. Regulation will introduce an element of responsibility to the WRU and CRC’s together. Without it, CRC’s will continue to overreach themselves, and pay money they don’t have until it’s too late and they go to the wall (echoes of regional rugby).

As admitted by Mr Davies, he and the WRU have failed to regulate and grow the community game, and the WRU needs to get a tighter grip on its own activities and allow all clubs to benefit.

It is hypocritical to expect CRC’s to stop paying in the pursuit of success, when the WRU supports a system encouraging the regions to challenge each other to spend more to be successful.

Belittling the community game in this way is either naïve, self-serving or has a secret agenda – perhaps Mr Davies would like the CRC’s to stop paying players thereby creating ring-fencing for the clubs above.