Welsh union’s plan could see two teams cease to exist
Abi Tierney: ‘Change is hard and this is hard for fans’
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has recognised the “hurt and anger” caused by its proposal to reduce the number of professional men’s sides in Wales from four to two, but insisted maintaining the status quo would be a mistake.
Welsh rugby’s governing body has produced a radical plan to turn around the game at club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a 90-page consultation document entitled The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales. There will be a six-week consultation period before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans, and its chief executive, Abi Tierney, has urged people to “improve on the proposals” and provide “something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby”.
The WRU’s proposal to halve its men’s professional sides – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – to two will be the biggest talking point in a document that outlined four potential models for the game in Wales. It is unclear whether the two proposed sides would be new entities or existing teams, but each would have a men’s and women’s team.
