Welsh Rugby Union CEO Roger Lewis has launched a scathing attack on the "vultures" who are recruiting Wales' top players.
This follows Wales flanker Dan Lydiate's announcement that he would be leaving the Dragons at the end of this season with his likely destination being a Top 14 club.
Lydiate will follow fellow Wales internationals Mike Phillips, James Hook, Lee Byrne, Luke Charteris and Huw Bennett to France as well as Jamie Roberts who is set to join Racing Metro.
Lewis said Welsh rugby was under attack, with big-name players being picked off "like pieces of meat."
He said the exodus will be one of the main issues tackled by the new organisation set up by the WRU and the four regions to administer the game in Wales.
The Professional Regional Game Board (PRGB) was established to oversee professional rugby in the wake of a report into the regional game by an accountanting firm.
"These are tough economic times in Wales and Welsh rugby is under attack," Lewis told Walesonline.
"The vultures have been circling for months, picking off Welsh players like pieces of meat.
"The announcement by the WRU and the four regions of the creation of the PRGB means that we will work together to tackle this issue.
"I am particularly concerned about the role played by agents in this player-drain from Wales."
Despite Lewis' annoyance over the departures of the Six Nations Champions' top players, Wales tighthead prop Adam Jones admitted that he may also be leaving his country to further his career abroad.
Jones stressed he is happy at the Ospreys and will remain at the Liberty Stadium until the end of next season when his current contract expires.
But, when asked whether he could end up going to France, he said it was something he would consider.
"I don't know, it is something I will have to think about," said the 31-year-old.
"I have another year left on my contract after this and obviously if you go on the Lions tour and do well then you put yourself in the shop window.
"There are so many things you have to think about, especially when you have a young family, but I know James Hook has gone out to Perpignan and loved it.
"I would never say never, though at the moment I am happy with the Ospreys.
"I think we have gone about things in the right way in the last couple of years."
Adding further concern to Welsh rugby is the prospect of losing Dragons number eight Toby Faletau at the end of next season.
Boss Rob Beale admits the region faces a challenge to keep hold of their international.
"Fortunately Toby is contracted for next year but I'm sure we will face similar challenges when [he comes] out of contract," Beale told BBC Sport.
"It's what's happening in professional rugby, and it's what's always happened if we are honest, but it is more prevalent at this moment."
Comments
Waz4before says...
The trouble with all this "salary cap" and "birthright" nonsense is this: how many people posting on here would accept some regulation stipulating the maximum amount of money you could earn in your job? ... none so far? how many would accepts only being able to work in the country in which your were born, scots back to Scotland, Poms in Oz back to england, .... none still? .. ok, so common sense says we wouldn't accept it ourselves so why should we want to impose it on others, worse still, impose it on others for the sake of our entertainment?
There has to be an answer somewhere but its not in regulating players to stay its in motivating them to stay - in Wales case they may need to pay them more and give them a domestic competition thats worth playing in -- right now the Pro12 is a 'waiting room" for the HC and International weekends ... i think to achieve both they need to cooperate with the English and French but with all the (mainly) anti-English rhetoric of late sadly, I would image the PRL are quietly enjoying the exodus and the WRU's discomfort
Posted 03:55 10th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Players going to overseas clubs for more money is just part and parcel of the professional era. There are some issues with it and the imbalance it provides, but hey what can you do about it. Regulation? I'm not sure, I like the salary cap thing, but it would be very hard to police and clubs would look for loop holes and other ways around it. It is what it is, and the only way around it is making your product more marketable. Don't tell Bokavenger I said that! My issue is not with players going overseas to play for clubs. My issue is with players becoming mercenary internationals for a price. You know most of them will go back home after their rugby careers are over, and by home I mean their real one. Not all of them, I know. Personally I think the rules should be something like... You represent your country of birth, unless you leave that country anywhere within your first 10 years and are then gone for more than 10 years. After that you could have a merit system for dispensation under special circumstances, not sure on criteria. Maybe situations where the country of origin are struggling or there is a need. I know it's not perfect and for various reasons many will take a dump on it. What's that saying "you can please some of the people.....
Posted 00:54 09th December 2012
Kent says...
@NHsaints - or maybe Ulster ?.
Posted 11:02 08th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Put madraglas in charge pronto!
Posted 08:17 08th December 2012
madraglas says...
With all this mumbo jumbo being spouted about poor domestic competition, millions of profit, trolls living under bridges and such like, I thought talk is cheap so I'm putting in my 2 pence worth.
Wales, like Ireland cannot sustain a good domestic competition. All it can do is act as a feeder for their franchise clubs which will have to play in a multinational league i.e. pro12. I'm all for promotion and relegation in this but the IRB would need to put their hand in their pockets to fund the Russian, Romanian, Georgian, Spanish and Portugese sides who would make up the second tier. There are other issues around this which would need support also such as support for the relegated teams to stop then going under. The Jocks may not be keen on this idea. I think it should be in the 6N too but that's a different debate.
Wales are in a similar position to the pacific island teams whose players all go abroad to play for more money. It was always the danger when the game turned pro and the only people that can stop it are the IRB by imposing a world wide salary cap. Japan are following in the footsteps of France and I can see Russia there soon too.
The solution for the WRU to enable them to give more money to the franchises is to sack off their 7s team. This would free up more funds to invest in their domestic game. It would also give each franchise 3 more quality players to work with.
The 7s team in my view is less successful at blooding new players than running an A team for instance.
Put me in charge and I'll sort the issues out!
Posted 07:03 08th December 2012
Waz4before says...
@ melkdave - I think you've got your figures mixed up. The WRU had a turnover of £63 m last year, not profit; the per-tax profit was about £2.5m which really isn't a lot.
It's hard to swollow his "vulture" comment when the WRU acts in a similar way by demanding RWC games are staged in Cardiff when another country is actually hosting and rips 6Ns TV money from England (but strangly not from France and Italy under the same logic). The double standards are bizarre!
However, if not addressed then the WRU best get used to being a feeder nation for the rest of the Rugby World similar to the south sea islands.
Posted 22:50 07th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Melkdave... Very good points the HC thing is a farce with Pro12
Posted 21:43 07th December 2012
hellovanite says...
TVaddict... hahaha yes that's right I am a social outcast living under a bridge preying on billy goats. Obviously unlike your good self. I can see that you are a person of unwavering moral fortitude. Morality is after all an interesting concept when coupled with free enterprise, makes me think of the poor beggar boy standing outside the sweet shop watching the rich kid stuff his gob. All the while the rich kid thinking who cares I'm rich. Funny how morality becomes so stretchy when some folk are forced to look at themselves. Look It is great to have a country that is diversely cultural and NZ is actually much the same. I know I am not going to get anywhere here, with a lot of what I say as some would rather drink their own pee than agree with a village idiot like me. Personally I think your compass is a little broken and you should get that checked out straight away before you become more lost :) Tongue n' cheek TVaddict, I have read many of your posts and strangely enough have not been too adversley affected by them.
Posted 21:40 07th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Healthy... I hear your points made and understand the dilemma. It is unfortunately true that money makes the difference and essentially there in lies the issue. English and French clubs are wealthier and thus a more attractive option. Yes you are right in that the Welsh rugby union need to step up here, but can they compete across the board? The only way they can come close is to provide regional contracts for the best players. Will you lose a lot of up and comers, yes. I remember my travels across Severn bridges into Wales and I believe Wales to be every bit the rugby Country that SA and NZ are. Money makes the world go round they say, I say the poor get the picture while the rich just keep getting richer. This is probably why you only pay tolls going to Wales and not the other way around. I would think that in some alternate reality if NZ was part of the UK we would be in the same boat as Wales. Adversely if Wales was a pacific island, well the sky's the limit. But we don't live in such a world and in reality we are no where near as financially able to support players like the big spending French and England clubs. And if they haven't represented a country yet all the better 3 years is all it takes to be converted into a fully fledged national. Yes players should be able to seek out their best financial options if that's what motivates them and in this world who could blame them. It is never going to be easy for Wales so they have to do what NZ does and make it all about the jersey and national pride, but how do you do this when your legacy is being systematically broken down by player drain. Regional teams is the only way, now if only the clubs would buy into this.
Posted 21:13 07th December 2012
TVaddict says...
@hellovanite
Is that because every single England supporter is more socially and culturally developed than you? (The answer is yes by the way, in case you were struggling) :)
Posted 14:24 07th December 2012
heathy says...
I'm a bit confused as to what this 'committee' are set up to do. This has been the problem in Welsh rugby (and other nations rugby for that matter) is the committee mentality. The situation is simple. Give a player a reason to stay. Of course a player is going to look after his own interest as they have a short career. I can tell you now though that most of the Welsh players would prefer to stay in Wales. They do not make footballers wages where a couple of seasons sets them up for life. It doesn't work like that with rugby. Wales were the last nation to adopt professional attitudes and working practices and I know this as I was once involved in player contracts and dealt with a lot of the Welsh clubs. They were dreadful. It was also the Welsh that brought in a host of foreign players when the game did turn professional (but they seem to have forgotten that fact). One example is Mako Vunipola, the English prop. His father was shipped over to Pontypool to play and there are a host of other examples. What happened there and why is Vunipola playing for England? This situation has been rumbling for years. The statement of vultures picking off Welsh players is unbelievably naive and makes Lewis look silly. Pay the players the going rate or at least make this a possibility. How does France, England and New Zealand do it? etc. In Wales there are clubs being backed by benefactors who are owed a lot of money. While they were doing this the WRU were happy. Now they have said no, they are starting to panic. This situation has been coming like a steam train for quite a while. Players do not get paid £130k. Top players get £250k+. It¿s a massive strain on the Welsh clubs as they are not supported financially. Every nation has a pot of money and always wants more. It is how they chose to spend it is what makes the difference. The Welsh have chosen to set up a committee!
Posted 12:55 07th December 2012
Sincero says...
Ironic to hear Taffy who was a Welshman complaining about stolen meat. All your own fault- stop trying to blame everyone and play the victim as usual- sort it out, you lowly ovine botherers.
Posted 12:13 07th December 2012
melkdave says...
@Hellovanote
As alot of [posters here will know,ive argued long and hard for the Pro12 to be a more revalent league,where the fans have something to get excited about,and actualy go and support their club.Your so right good international rugby teams ,stands on the shoulders of strong domestic competions.That atm is lacking in the Pro12 ,theres just no consequences for losing matches,and thus no real incentive for players to battle as hard as possible to win said matches.Now im not saying regulation is an option,but surly having to battle for your HC place would be start,and give the fans something to cheer for or be fearfull for,either way hopefully they would go to the matches ,,giving the clubs a larger income..There has to be consequences in a league othwise its a worthless thing.for players and fans .Hence the massve drop in attadances ,in these harsh economic times.in Wales .Scotland ,ect.That hasnt happened in England or France so far,where both leagues have big consequences and every match matters,in fact attendances are up on last year by a significant amount .
Posted 11:05 07th December 2012
jose_jones says...
I take back what I said on a previous thread,.. perhaps he is the naive clown everyone thinks he is,..
This whole situation needs addressing from top to bottom, until that happens, the players will gravitate toward financial security,.. this is a Welsh rugby problem,.. the drain of tallent from the regions is just a symptome.
As a Dragons supporter, I feel that there is a degree of hypocracy about this whole situation,.. I have watched the carcass of my region being picked clean since the 2nd or 3rd season of regional rugby, now that the other regions are on the menu with us,....... wait for it,..... they have set up a commitee,.... All the money being thrown at this desperately needs to be invested further down the tree,..
I agree that action needs to be taken,.. but it really needs to be "action",.. less discussion more decision.
Q. Why,.. with a Golden Generation of players,.. is Welsh rugby still on it's a;$e?
Posted 08:52 07th December 2012
hellovanite says...
What people fail to understand is that for international rugby to survive domestic competitions need to be strong, countries like Wales need to be supported not picked at like the debris of some rotting carcass ripe for the picking. I know I'm an idealist but I don't want to lose my sense of nationalistic pride. I used to think how does it make a national team strong when lots of the pivotal positions are occupied by foreign players. It seems to me that some feel the way round this is money. Throw a shirt on anyones back and call them whatever country pays them the most. I tell you if we go down this path all we will have is competition XV's and national teams will be a thing of the past, so support whomever takes your fancy. Cheque books just might turn internationals into the IPL of the rugby world. Don't expect much sympathy from England supporters on this subject
Posted 06:44 07th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Well now this sounds all to familiar.....
Posted 06:26 07th December 2012
melkdave says...
@Jontheref
I chose£3.5 million because its a nice round number for 35 players ie 100K each ,The WRU made £63 milion gross profit iirc last year,,so theres nothing stopping them incrasing the base figure of £3.5 million,it depends on what they are spending the money on.So far that seems to be a mystery,to most posters.No A team expenditure,no new regions,or clubs im aware of,ect so just where is the money going??Its not going to the clubs atm ,as they are all suffering financially ,and thus losing star players ,to clubs who can pay better wages ect.Surly the WRUs prioity has to be the well being of the game in Wales ,and the national team,and helping the best welsh players stay playing for welsh clubs ,would help in that regard.
Posted 00:24 07th December 2012
jontheref says...
melkdave
as on the other thread, where on earth do you get this figure of £3.5 from?
You say spending £100k per player will do it, think you are way off with your proposal of paying 100k + 30k, that does not match the car allowance in France!
Cloud coocoo land.
Posted 20:04 06th December 2012
Isograford says...
Welcome to the professional era. New Zealand has had to put up with this for years, and at one point Welsh clubs were the main ones doing it.
Posted 18:20 06th December 2012
NHsaints says...
I don't see why Wales are complaining...with some of their top players moving to play in better setups they'll actually get in the habit of winning games (which is something that doesn't come easily if you're playing for the dragons).
Posted 18:12 06th December 2012