Welsh regions: Working together
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The Welsh Rugby Union and the four regions have established a new body to strengthen the professional game in the country.
In a move to confront the major issues facing the sport in Wales, a High Court judge - Justice Wyn Lewis Williams - will chair the new Professional Regional Game Board (PRGB), which will include representatives of the WRU, Newport Gwent Dragons, Cardiff Blues, Scarlets and Ospreys.
The board has been established in the wake of a critical report into the way professional rugby is run in Wales and it is hoped the new organisation can work to improve the situation at the elite level both on and off the field and address various issues including the continued exodus of top-level players.
A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers painted a dark picture, with the current system of four regional teams deemed "financially unsustainable".
"The formation of the new Professional Regional Game Board is a landmark moment in the history of Welsh rugby," WRU chief executive Roger Lewis said in a statement.
"By working together, we will create a unity of purpose for Welsh professional rugby which will be underpinned by collective management, enhanced with greater central resources and structured to ensure effective decision-making."
61-year-old Williams played for Tylorstown RFC and joined the International Rugby Board's disciplinary panel in 2012. He plans to undertake his new unpaid role on the PRGB alongside his legal career.
"His status as a High Court judge ensures he takes on this post with a formidable reputation for objectivity, fairness and an undoubted ability to find intelligent solutions to complex problems," added Lewis.
"His interest in rugby and true understanding of the game at all levels means he brings to the role a real knowledge of the issues which the PRGB will prioritise."
The PRGB is expected to hold its first meeting later this month.
Comments
Sincero says...
Wales is in the she'ite, and it's all your own fault- you did nothing to protect your players, and now they've all gone to France, so that's poor management- meanwhile the 'rugby supporters' sat on their ample behinds and complained about everything from the couch on internet forums while your teams played to empty houses week-in week-out. Your national sport? No on two fronts- (you're not a nation, firstly) television figures and attendance figures for Wales have rugby miles behind soccer, while the opposite is now true in France, supposedly a soccer nation. You're an English county of soccer-fans, and that has its consequences- one you might have noted is the player exodus to France, whe. You're damaging the league, you morons. Get your bleeding act together.
Posted 12:11 07th December 2012
jontheref says...
melkdave,
I think you are way off with your proposal of paying 100k + 30k, that does not match the car allowance in France!
Posted 17:45 06th December 2012
melkdave says...
Copying England i see with a profesional board,hopefully it an sort out the apparent mess welsh rugby seems to be in atm.But i still feel a good start would be central contracts for those players in the welsh EPS for £3.5 million they could secure 35 players for welsh rugby longterm.Giving each player £100 K basic with the clubs topping it up with £30 K or whatever.It would cut the clubs wage bill by at least half for the star players ,and be a very competative wage anywhere imo,even Japan I suppose we will just have to see what happens now ,hopefully somethng quick and good for welsh rugby .
Posted 14:16 06th December 2012
rugbydaft says...
Wales should adopt same system as NZ and Ireland with the international players being contracted to the union but i fear its too late for that as more and more players leave for france
Posted 12:31 06th December 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Good to see. I mentioned on the article about dan lydiate moving to france that the WRU had to get their act together and put the onus on the players to have an WRU written clause about national training days and test call ups added to their contracts. Maybe this new Professional Regional Game Board (random note 1) is the place to action this sooner rather than later. Its too late for Lydiate, but whats stopping Halfpenny from deciding to go over the channel? or Wyn Jones or Davies? Close the door before the whole herd wonders out of the barn.
Random Note 1: Professional Regional Game Board - Not to be confused with the Regional Professional Game Board that runs the Welsh National Snakes and Ladders League ;)
Posted 12:16 06th December 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
sounds similar to the Irish system.
Presume we will see the international players sequestered to Blues and Ospreys with the other 2 regions left to develop international players.
You can do that in a league without consequence for playing failure.
Posted 08:06 06th December 2012