'Stitch-up of convenience' - New Ospreys chairman issues derisive statement as first point of business
The new Ospreys chairman has taken an immediate swing at the PRB merger plan, branding it a stitch-up.
Incoming chairman Rob Davies has said he would be pressing WRU and PRB officials for a clear timetable and actions surrounding Project Reset as well as reminding them of their duty to comprehensively address options for the future of regional rugby.
Davies said:
“There are three stark realities.
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"Firstly, the concept of an Ospreys-Scarlets merger is dead and the clock is ticking. Secondly, Wales was promised a comprehensive review with nothing off the table, but nothing has yet been put on the table. Thirdly, the PRB cynically left it to the regions to have a shoot-out for survival with the clear direction that a region in the West should go and make room for a fourth in the North. We are now where we are as a result.
“It’s hard to look at this situation and not conclude that a stitch-up of convenience has just unravelled before us all. There isn’t a ‘plan B’, because there was never a ‘plan A’. Even the PRB has said a western merger was central to their planning, which is frankly mind-boggling. Wishful thinking is not an acceptable replacement for responsible decision-making.
“It’s now time for the grown-ups to get back in the room. It’s time for experienced strategic planning, robust consultation and a methodical process to emerge that is transparent, timely and carries with it the full range of the sport’s stakeholders. And this is what I will be discussing with Union and PRB officials over the coming days.”
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I think you missed the point here. Why have a team aimed at developing the game and then steal their players? Surely the idea is to have fringe AB players who have not yet broken through into the squad, play for another nation and develop that nation - sorts of defeats the object if you say let’s develop the PI’s but if some players develop really well we can just steal them back.
Go to commentsHe has been used sparingly so far, which has worked well to maintain his game time and keep him injury-free for the knock out games
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