Why the plan for changes set for Welsh rugby has blown up into bitter dispute
PREMIERSHIP IN THE SPOTLIGHT – SPECIAL REPORT:
LESS than two weeks out from the start of the 2018-19 Principality Premiership season, Merthyr chief executive Nigel Davies has launched a scathing attack on the Welsh Rugby Union for the way it has treated the semi-pro tier.
The league has reached a significant cross-roads, not deemed fit for purpose by its own governing body for developing young players for the regional game and facing a significant cut in numbers and funding.
Davies himself has raised questions about the future of some of the clubs, presenting a doomsday scenario if they were to suffer relegation at the end of this season.
Here we get to the heart of the row.
What has triggered Davies’ comments?
IN essence, it’s the introduction of a new development competition, the Celtic Cup.
It will see the four Welsh regional sides made up of mainly under-23 players, taking on the four Irish provinces over seven weeks during September and October - a replacement for the scrapped British & Irish Cup and Anglo-Welsh Cup.
The WRU believe the new tier will bridge the gap to the professional game, providing a better springboard for players, coaches and referees.
As part of the changes that have been introduced below regional rugby, the Premiership will be reduced in size to 12 teams for the 2019-20 season and that could see some high-profile casualties.
Last season, the Premiership’s bottom four included Neath, Swansea and Llanelli – three of Wales’ most well-known club sides.
With reduced funding, Davies has suggested that some big names might not just suffer the ignominy of relegation, but the very real prospect of going out of existence.
What have the WRU said?
THE governing body are yet to respond to Davies’s comments, but in an interview with WalesOnline last month, the WRU’s head of rugby performance Geraint John, who was tasked with overseeing a wide-ranging review of the semi-pro tier, explained in detail the need to separate what he called the “performance model” from the “club model”.
He said: “The feedback from the surveys and the consultants report was there was a massive gap between Premiership and pro rugby.
“We tracked training sessions and games and the performance model wasn’t right below regional rugby to support player and coaching development.
“Nothing against the club model. That’s week-in, week-out rugby and that’s what the club people wanted.
“Performance models are different. You need a competitive period and you need performance blocks, where they train and do the physical and skill preparation.
“So a week-in, week-out club model doesn’t actually support a performance model.
“That’s why we had to separate everything out.”
What do the clubs think about it?
THE Premiership clubs were part of the review process and Davies was at the forefront of the discussions, but it is patently clear the changes have not been universally accepted.
Swansea are one club who have already expressed their fears about the coming season and they are not alone.
They are a side who have always looked to give young talent a platform, with a number of Ospreys academy products being allocated to play in the Premiership.
However, those players will now be absent during the Celtic Cup competition.
The best young regional players will also be asked to step up to play in the Guinness PRO14 during the November international window, as well as the Six Nations, when many of them will also be part of the Wales Under-20s set-up.
Swansea head coach Richard Lancaster has said: “We have put a lot into developing young players over the years and if those boys are taken from us for the opening couple of months of the season, then clearly that makes life difficult.
“The under-20s boys could be away during the Six Nations for their age-grade competition as well.
“It looks highly likely the best youngsters will not be playing in the Premiership next season.”