Wilson calls for Union to change contract system

CARDIFF Blues boss Danny Wilson has urged the Welsh Rugby Union to overhaul the National Dual Contract (NDC) system following Leigh Halfpenny’s decision to reject a deal to return to the Arms Park in favour of joining the Scarlets.

The Blues coach warned that the Ospreys and Scarlets would get stronger at the expense of the Blues and Dragons if players were allowed to choose where they want to be based.

Former Blues skipper Bradley Davies and Wales points machine Halfpenny turned down offers from their former team to head west to the Ospreys and Scarlets respectively.

The Dragons also suffered when another former Wales skipper, Dan Lydiate, signed for the Ospreys rather than return to Gwent following his early departure from French Top 14 club Racing Metro.

The Ospreys have eight NDC players on their books, the Scarlets four and the Blues and Dragons having two apiece. The WRU pays 60% of their contracts and the relevant region the other 40%.

“There’s four in the east of Wales and 12 or 13 in the west,” pointed out Wilson, before stressing it was vital the Blues became an attractive proposition for players returning to Wales from exile on NDCs.

But he explained: “The problem is the system has the risk, at the moment, of feeding the strong. If players have the choice where they go, perhaps the more successful Welsh players will go to certain clubs who will then attract the other internationals for obvious reasons.

“They will be with a side who are considered to be at the top end of the league or in European competition.

“For us to get to that point, we obviously need our fair share in the future. I’m sure the WRU is looking at that because, financially, it’s a huge gain and we would certainly need that financial assistance, which gives you the player resource that gives you a bit of depth.

“You are getting a world-class player for 40% of what that world-class player is worth, which would be worth a huge amount to us as a region.

“We are in constant conversation with the union and there’s discussions to be had about how that (NDCs) looks and works in the future. I suppose it depends what the aim and the goal is for regional rugby.” he added.

Of Halfpenny’s choice to head west, he said: “It was Leigh’s decision. It was a shame with Leigh being a Blues boy who had come through a Blues Academy system and so on.

“But, at the same time, Leigh had his reasons and we get on with it. We have got some excellent full-backs here and, if I’m honest, it would probably have given us a bigger headache. It’s probably other positions where we need depth.”