Welsh rugby needs a change of direction
THE WRU is clearly no longer fit for purpose and requires a radical restructuring and indeed a radical change of leadership.
Throughout my lifetime the WRU has often come in for criticism yet at times, particularly during the mid-‘60s and much of the ‘70s, it has been creative and innovative. However, Welsh rugby now seems directionless and headed for the rocks as the Union prioritises “finance over rugby” as a former long-term member of the general committee succinctly put it.
Having been actively involved in grassroots rugby for many years, I’ve become well aware of the struggles of the game in recent times, struggles which did not start with Covid. The whole institution started to go off the rails during the Roger Lewis era when most decisions were made primarily around finance. However, Lewis and Pickering ran the national side as a virtual “superregion” to the detriment of the actual regions, who for years have been left to deal with a raft of contrary policies, uncertain financial support and constant leaked rumours that one of them will be cut.
The regions should underpin the national team but any reduction in number would certainly impact the player base. The 60-cap rule has been controversial but has been largely positive as top players have been incentivised to return to Wales or to remain. Theoretically we should now have four competitive, quality teams. But what is the point of keeping our best players if they rarely represent their regions? Last Saturday’s Osprey/Scarlets game was a fine example of what regional rugby could be with most leading players available and played at a reasonable kick-off time. It was intense, skilful and exciting, with a decent crowd and a great atmosphere. Supporters want to see the best players playing for their clubs. It doesn’t take an Einstein or a Carwyn James to work that one out.
This happy situation rarely occurs, however, as the players are locked up in endless international training camps from which even players not required for match-day squads are rarely released. Or they are unable to start the season following a gruelling summer tour schedule. What genius decided that a three-Test series against South Africa this summer was a good idea, by the way? Don’t tell me, the WRU treasurer. It follows on from the ill-advised Lions tour last summer that cost both Wales and the regions very dearly in terms of injury and early season nonavailability.
Emotion and finance rarely mix but emotion is very much part of the Celtic DNA and of Welsh rugby in particular. The players at all levels and the fans should be the priority of the Union. Money should not be the sole governing factor in plotting the way forward. An accountant may well devise a plan that balances the WRU books but by the time this reaches fruition there may well no longer be a game left to govern. What the Union should be doing is finding ways of financing the game from grassroots to regions rather than indulging in the idiotic cornershop economics of Marget Thatcher.
In the short term an obvious
course of action for the top brass of the WRU presents itself: resign!
I Seaton Mumbles