Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Catastrophic European campaign could usher in end of Welsh Regional Rugby as we know it

The Ospreys after their home loss to Worcester Warriors (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

It has been a busy few weeks at the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) where plans to reinvigorate the regional game continue apace.

ADVERTISEMENT

On Friday it was announced that former Wales captain Ryan Jones had been appointed performance director at the union – effectively swapping jobs with Geraint John, who has assumed responsibility for the community game.

In his new job, Jones will sit on the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) which is the body charged with implementing ‘Project Reset’, the WRU’s bid to make professional rugby in Wales more competitive.

At a time when the national team is flying, on a nine-game unbeaten run heading into the Six Nations, the regions that sit beneath it are in need of a reboot.

For the first time in five years there will be no Welsh representative in the last eight of either the Champions or Challenge Cup, while attendances have been disappointing amid growing apathy towards the PRO14.

Continue reading below…

Video Spacer

‘Project Reset’ is therefore the WRU’s chance to hit Ctrl+Alt+Del but although a new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) was agreed in December, and the PRB met twice a fortnight ago, details of the future funding model have not been made public.

Under the new agreement, a banding system will be brought in to curb player wage inflation with National Dual Contracts (NDCs) phased out but it remains unclear how the four regions will be funded.

ADVERTISEMENT
Ryan Jones lands new WRU job. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The ongoing discussions – the PRB will meet again at the beginning of February – are the most important for professional rugby in Wales since the regions were introduced in 2003.

There are those who would like the WRU to rip up the current system and start again, potentially with just two teams remaining.

Ollie Griffiths of Dragons holds the line against Clermont
ADVERTISEMENT

But given the four regional chairmen sit on the PRB, and that WRU CEO Martyn Phillips stated in September that “the purpose of the project is to implement a strategy whereby the five professional entities (Wales and the four regions) work together” it seems unlikely that any will be sacrificed.

It would seem more probable that an incentive-based funding model will be introduced, rewarding the regions for their performance on and off the pitch.

Maintaining four regions is an attractive option for the WRU as it ensures a sufficient player pool is available for the Wales head coach to pick from.

Scarlets hooker Ken Owens. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Dragons back-row Aaron Wainwright is a current case in point. The 21-year-old is only in his second season as a professional but looks set to play an important role for Wales in the Six Nations having made his Test debut in November.

Wainwright’s rapid rise would not have been possible without the opportunity he was given to play for the Dragons at the start of last season. Were there only two professional teams in Wales it is unlikely his chance, in an extremely competitive position, would have arrived so swiftly.

Cutting down the number of teams means narrowing the player pool available to the national team head coach, something that the WRU would be loathe do to.

But, if it looks as though the four regions are here to stay, is there enough money to go around?

Matthew Morgan tears in Lyon, in one of Cardiff few victories

A look at the WRU’s most recent accounts show that £20.5 million was shared between the Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Scarlets while £6m was given to the Dragons following its takeover by the union.

That represented a record amount put into the four regions but the cost of success continues to soar and the regions’ budgets are dwarfed by those in England, France and Ireland.

In 2016-17, when the Scarlets won the PRO12 title the region lost £603,817. That season, the West Walians’ expenditure was £11.04m, which is around £1.5m less than Bristol spent during their last campaign in the RFU Championship.

If the regions are to become more competitive in both the PRO14 and Europe, then they will need added investment from the WRU and elsewhere, with Scarlets chairman Nigel Short telling a supporters’ event that collective commercial and sponsorship deals could be an option.

However, 2017-18 was a bumper year for the WRU accounts, in part because the Principality Stadium hosted a series of Ed Sheeran concerts, and there is not likely to be too much of an increase in funding from the union.

The Millenium Stadium in Cardiff

So, whichever way it is dressed up, the regions will be divvying up around £28m between themselves at a time when Gallagher Premiership clubs are regularly spending £20m a season.

Significant commercial investment becomes integral in that scenario but it is something the regions have struggled to attract in recent times.

The Dragons had hoped to swell their coffers with the redevelopment of the north end of Rodney Parade, but Short suggested that any proceeds from the WRU-owned ground would be split between all four regions.

That would be a huge for Dragons chairman David Buttress as he attempts to drive revenue streams that would stop the region becoming a de facto development team in a ‘three-plus-one’ funding model.

The cost of success will increase yet further in the light of the Premiership’s partnership with CVC and without a similar windfall for the PRO14, it is difficult to envisage how the Welsh regions will keep pace.

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 6 | Le Crunch

The Unexpected Journey to USA 7s Glory | Aaron Cummings | Sevens Wonders

USA vs Japan | Full Match Replay

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
Raymond Wealth 34 minutes ago
21-point win sees Blues leapfrog Force into playoff contention

I fight fires for a living, it's in my blood as a volunteer firefighter. But nothing could have prepared me for the fire that almost reduced my family's future to ashes. I had secretly accumulated $150,000 worth of Bitcoin over the years, intending to lock up my children's education and provide my wife with some leeway from our constant shift-work life. That was until a phishing attack struck me while I was out fighting a wildfire. The call had been on a hot afternoon. We were dashing to contain wildfires tearing across parched scrub lands. At such frantic moments, my phone pulsed with a security alert message from what looked like my Bitcoin wallet operator. Drenched with sweat, fatigue, and hyper adrenaline, I had clicked on the link and input my log-ins without questioning anything. I was tricked by hackers during my most vulnerable time. Hours later, returning to the station, I emptied my wallet. The harsh reality hit me with more force than any fire could ever have. My carefully saved safety net had vanished. My heart beat faster than the sirens. I felt as though I had failed my family. I explained my terror of burgers at our favorite local diner that evening to my friend. He leaned in close and whispered a single word: Digital Hack Recovery. He swore by their effectiveness, stating they worked miracles when his cousin had crypto stolen from him in a scam. I was skeptical old-school and desperate, so I called them. From the first call, their team treated me like family. They didn't only view figures; they viewed a husband and a father attempting to rectify a horrific error. They labored day and night, following stolen money through blockchain transactions like l detectives. Progress was made every day, translating intricate tech into fireman-speak. Ten days later, I got the call. “We recovered your Bitcoin.” I cried. Right there in the station, surrounded by smoke-stained gear, I let it all out. Relief. Gratitude. Hope they don't stop there. Knowing I worked in emergency services, Digital Hack Recovery offered to run an online security workshop for my entire fire department. They turned my disaster into a lesson that safeguarded my team. These folks don’t just recover wallets; they rebuild lives. They rebuilt mine. I fight fires for a living, it's in my blood as a volunteer firefighter. But nothing could have prepared me for the fire that almost reduced my family's future to ashes. I had secretly accumulated $150,000 worth of Bitcoin over the years, intending to lock up my children's education and provide my wife with some leeway from our constant shift-work life. That was until a phishing attack struck me while I was out fighting a wildfire. The call had been on a hot afternoon. We were dashing to contain wildfires tearing across parched scrub lands. At such frantic moments, my phone pulsed with a security alert message from what looked like my Bitcoin wallet operator. Drenched with sweat, fatigue, and hyper adrenaline, I had clicked on the link and input my log-ins without questioning anything. I was tricked by hackers during my most vulnerable time. Hours later, returning to the station, I emptied my wallet. The harsh reality hit me with more force than any fire could ever have. My carefully saved safety net had vanished. My heart beat faster than the sirens. I felt as though I had failed my family. I explained my terror of burgers at our favorite local diner that evening to my friend. He leaned in close and whispered a single word: Digital Hack Recovery. He swore by their effectiveness, stating they worked miracles when his cousin had crypto stolen from him in a scam. I was skeptical old-school and desperate, so I called them. From the first call, their team treated me like family. They didn't only view figures; they viewed a husband and a father attempting to rectify a horrific error. They labored day and night, following stolen money through blockchain transactions like l detectives. Progress was made every day, translating intricate tech into fireman-speak. Ten days later, I got the call. “We recovered your Bitcoin.” I cried. Right there in the station, surrounded by smoke-stained gear, I let it all out. Relief. Gratitude. Hope they don't stop there. Knowing I worked in emergency services, Digital Hack Recovery offered to run an online security workshop for my entire fire department. They turned my disaster into a lesson that safeguarded my team. These folks don’t just recover wallets; they rebuild lives. They rebuilt mine. Contact : WhatsApp : +1 4 743 537 719 Website : https://digitalhackrecovery.com Mail:digitalhackrecovery@techie.com

0 Go to comments
P
Patience Anthony 2 hours ago
Tusi Pisi confirms Manu Samoa coaching team and captain

I remember the moment clearly staring at my empty wallet, heart sinking, hands clammy. My Bitcoin was gone. It had vanished into the digital void after I mistakenly clicked on a convincing phishing link. Weeks of saving, investing, and watching the market  gone in seconds. I tried everything contacted my wallet provider, scoured forums, filed reports. Nothing worked. Everyone told me the same thing: “Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”  I was on the verge of giving up when I came across a thread mentioning NanoAethosCoinRecovery. It sounded too good to be true like every other so called “recovery service”, but something about the way people described their professionalism gave me a sliver of hope. I reached out, expecting radio silence or empty promises. Instead, I got a prompt reply. They were direct, transparent, and cautious not promising miracles, but laying out a clear process. They asked for all relevant details, conducted a blockchain forensic analysis, and traced the stolen coins through layers of obfuscation and mixing. NanoAethosCoinRecovery didn’t just recover my Bitcoin they restored my faith in justice in the crypto world. I learned a hard lesson, but thanks to them, it didn’t end in defeat. Now, I triple-check every link I click, but I also know who to turn to if things go south again.

contact:

Whatsapp: +1 (570) 229-9724Telegram: @NanoAethosEmail:  NanoAethosCoinRecovery@engineer.com

0 Go to comments
P
Patience Anthony 2 hours ago
Tusi Pisi confirms Manu Samoa coaching team and captain

I remember the moment clearly staring at my empty wallet, heart sinking, hands clammy. My Bitcoin was gone. It had vanished into the digital void after I mistakenly clicked on a convincing phishing link. Weeks of saving, investing, and watching the market  gone in seconds. I tried everything contacted my wallet provider, scoured forums, filed reports. Nothing worked. Everyone told me the same thing: “Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”  I was on the verge of giving up when I came across a thread mentioning NanoAethosCoinRecovery. It sounded too good to be true like every other so called “recovery service”, but something about the way people described their professionalism gave me a sliver of hope. I reached out, expecting radio silence or empty promises. Instead, I got a prompt reply. They were direct, transparent, and cautious not promising miracles, but laying out a clear process. They asked for all relevant details, conducted a blockchain forensic analysis, and traced the stolen coins through layers of obfuscation and mixing. NanoAethosCoinRecovery didn’t just recover my Bitcoin they restored my faith in justice in the crypto world. I learned a hard lesson, but thanks to them, it didn’t end in defeat. Now, I triple-check every link I click, but I also know who to turn to if things go south again.

contact:

Whatsapp: +1 (570) 229-9724 Telegram:https://t.me/NanoAethos Email:  (NanoAethosCoinRecovery@engineer.com)

0 Go to comments
K
Keanu Nikolaus 4 hours ago
'Their eyes lit up': Ben and Tom Curry relishing Jack Willis test

When it comes to recovering stolen cryptocurrency, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES stands head and shoulders above the competition. Their unmatched expertise, cutting-edge proprietary technology, and relentless commitment to justice make them the undisputed leader in the field. What sets them apart is not just their ability to recover lost funds but their innovative, tech-driven approach that outsmarts even the most sophisticated cybercriminals.At the heart of their success is their revolutionary proprietary technology suite, a game-changing arsenal of tools designed to dismantle fraud schemes. Their advanced blockchain crawlers scour networks with surgical precision, uncovering illicit transactions that others miss. Meanwhile, their address clustering algorithms track stolen funds across countless wallets, exposing fraudsters who believe they’ve covered their tracks.GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES uses critical edge in identifying and stopping fraud before it’s too late.What truly makes GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES extraordinary is their lightning-fast response strategy. Unlike other firms that react after the damage is done, they operate proactively with a real-time alert system that flags suspicious transactions the moment they occur. This allows them to freeze stolen assets before criminals can launder them through decentralized exchanges a feat few can accomplish. Their ability to act within minutes, not days, has saved countless clients from irreversible losses.GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES has repeatedly proven its dominance in high-stakes crypto fraud cases, where time is the difference between recovery and ruin. Their expertise in dismantling complex scams from crypto frauds,phishing attacks to Ponzi schemes has made them the go-to solution for victims worldwide. No other firm combines their level of technical sophistication with such relentless determination.But what truly makes GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES legendary is their culture of innovation. They don’t just adapt to new threats they anticipate them. Their team of elite cyber investigators and blockchain analysts constantly refine their methods, ensuring they stay ahead of evolving criminal tactics. For them, innovation isn’t just a strategy it’s their superpower.For anyone facing the nightmare of stolen crypto, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES isn’t just the best choice they’re the only choice. Their unparalleled technology, rapid response, and unwavering dedication to justice make them the gold standard in crypto restitution. Trusting anyone else would be a mistake because when it comes to recovering what’s yours, only GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES delivers miracles.You can reach them on whatsapp +18582759508 web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Final hurrah for the All Blacks Sevens Final hurrah for the All Blacks Sevens
Search