Jonathan Davies floats 'turn back the clock' idea for regional rugby restart in Wales
With every day that passes, the challenges that rugby faces over the coming months during the Covid-19 pandemic become clearer. Not only has Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney revealed the financial losses that have and could happen in England alone, but a timescale for the potential length of this suspension of rugby is also becoming clearer, particularly in the northern hemisphere.
Some leagues have already abandoned their season, while others are still holding on hope. The Guinness PRO14 is one that is teetering on annulling its 2019/20 campaign and preparing for the next - whenever that may be. If that were to happen, ex-Wales out-half Jonathan Davies has suggested that the first steps towards an eventual resumption towards rugby in that league should be taken in-house.
Taking to Twitter, Davies has floated the idea that rather than wait for the travel restrictions to lift in a PRO14 tournament that caters for teams from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa and Italy, he believes that players at the four Welsh regions could perhaps turn out for clubs in the local Premiership so that they could get back playing before the cross-border five-nation league resumes.
The idea of players temporarily switching to domestic rugby is something that has already been discussed in Australia and New Zealand, as Super Rugby would face even more travel complications than the PRO14 given the even greater distances it straddles.
If fans were able to attend these local games in Wales, it’s unlikely there would be a dip in attendances. If anything, there should be rise due to the number of age-old rivalries that would be played out with star players involved. These were the rivalries that underpinned the game in Wales before it was regionalised in 2003.
The reality, though, is that games - if they went ahead - would probably be played behind closed doors. Still, Davies’ idea is a further indication of the different avenues that must be explored if rugby is to get going again.
Latest Comments
I'm happy for the people of SA to get a second WC. And I mean that. I was very disappointed with this man's “stand on the hand” incident with Josh Van Der Flyer (Ireland). Ireland's downfall in the last WC was they did not rotate their first 15 as the head coach probably should have. That said, I'm happy for SA and genuinely hope it lifts the mood in their country. Ireland did beat them in the first match of the tournament. And before the trolls start trolling ….. please don't bother. Etzbeth said recently that the Irish players said after the match “see you in the final”…..this was actually wishing the SA team the best of luck in the rest, the Irish team were not dismissing the AB’s. This is what Etzbeth was implying. But he was wrong. I no longer live in Ireland. But I hope to see them lift that cup before I pass. Anyway, congratulations SA. 👍
Go to commentsMore bloody click bait. Dan Carter has said absolutely nothing. As he should do. Poor journalism again from a site that should know better
Go to comments