Merger is now 'off the table' - Scarlets reveal latest twist in explosive Welsh clubs row

The Scarlets have dramatically revealed that any planned merger with their Welsh regional rivals Ospreys is now "off the table".
Welsh rugby is in domestic turmoil and discussions are now deadlocked over so-called Project Reset - Welsh rugby's biggest domestic shake-up since the inception of regional sides 16 years ago
The Scarlets and Ospreys were expected to join forces under that plan, together with a new professional team being formed in north Wales, alongside existing Welsh regions Cardiff Blues and the Dragons.
Scores of Welsh professional players' immediate futures are in limbo, with Wales' Professional Rugby Board (PRB) hoping to have thrashed out a proposal for the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board.
But Ospreys chairman Mike James resigned at the start of Tuesday's PRB meeting, citing the WRU's "catastrophic mismanagement" of efforts to overhaul the game.
(Continue reading below...)
The furious Ospreys then released a strongly worded statement claiming they were not on the verge of merging with the Scarlets.
And the PRB responded by stating a merger between Scarlets and Ospreys was "a central component" of their proposal.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Scarlets gave a detailed update on their position. They confirmed that the proposed merger was driven by the regions, revealing they received "a high-level approach" from the Ospreys about it in late December, but the merger is now off the table.
"Firstly, we can confirm the statement issued by the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) on Tuesday afternoon as accurate, as are the comments made by Wales’ national coach that the proposed merger was driven by the regions, in consultation with the PRB," claimed the Scarlets in their statement.
"In late December, the Scarlets received a high-level approach from the Ospreys to explore the option of a merger as they had come to the conclusion that their position as tenants at the Liberty Stadium was proving to be challenging.
"This was discussed at the two-day strategy meeting of PRB on January 8 and 9. The loss of a region would have put Welsh rugby in breach of its commitment to having four regions playing in the major competitions. As a result, the option of a team playing out of north Wales was raised.
"By the time of the next PRB meeting on February 5, discussions had broken down between the Scarlets and Ospreys and we were told that the Ospreys and another region were in talks over a possible merger, again with north Wales being the option to maintain four teams.
"Subsequently, those discussions also broke down and we were approached again last week by the Ospreys to reconsider a merger.
"Heads of terms were agreed and signed by the Ospreys and Scarlets on March 1 on terms we believe our supporters would be happy with. This was to be proposed at a meeting of the PRB on Tuesday afternoon, but we were told at the start of that meeting that the Ospreys had changed their mind. The merger is off the table.
"In recent years, the Scarlets have been building steadily to regain our place as one of Europe’s leading sides. We have a superb stadium, great staff, loyal and passionate supporters and a team to be proud of. We know that the problems regarding Welsh rugby have not gone away but we remain committed to the best interests of the Scarlets and the game in Wales."
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“Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement?”
It is an achievement. It is less of an achievement than he managed with Barcelona. You said that ”He has gotten better with age. By every measure.” He hasn’t. Doesn’t mean he isn’t still extremely good though!
”I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…”
are you really this incapable of understanding the context of what I’m saying? My point is that Gatland was a good coach ten years ago, and isn’t a good coach now. So what he did ten years ago is relevant to whether he was good ten years ago - that is pretty basic stuff.
On the other hand, what Les Kiss did ten years ago isn’t relevant to how good he is now, just as what Gatland did ten years ago isn’t relevant to how good he is now.
”So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?”
I was replying to your comment, given you have the memory of a goldfish and are unable to scroll up, I’m remind you what you said:
“Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.”
Go to commentsMaybe, but it was not my comment. I just wanted to say that a lot of these articles which are speaking of top14 clubs interest in players transfer on all the planet are not all very serious. But if it helps these players for better contracts, why not…
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