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https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...pment-31662173
Whether it’s the right move or not, Imagine if you was a fan of the dragons.
If you go by their playing record over recent seasons, the Dragons should be the ones to be cut, but you can’t help but contrast the WRU’s attitude towards Cardiff’s woes and Newport’s. I find it incredible that a country with Wales’ rugby history can only support three top class (they’re not even that really) clubs - rugby is in a decline in Wales, but not to the extent shown in the last two years.Originally Posted by WJ99mobile
Worst thing they did was set up the regions.. an American model akin to mk Dons
I'd keep the dragons, but on a very reduced budget. Give them guaranteed loans of Welsh players from the other 3 sides in return. The dragons have been poorly run, but they're a well supported side. Shame to see them go.
If this is true, it's another nail in the coffin from an executive board that repeatedly go back on their word at almost every turn.
The job losses are bad enough but those are fans that will never come back.
And for it to come out while all the players and staff are away in South Africa is the icing on the cake.
I don't think the URC will be impressed either. I believe there is a significant financial penalty if the WRU fails to provide four teams?
Another absolute mess from surely one of the world's worst-run sporting bodies.
Three is still too many.
It's a minority sport, and this isn't a football rant, either. No other country has four first-class clubs within a 60-mile stretch of road.
Llanelli need to go as well and have east and west superclubs playing in and British & Ireland league, but then return to a 16 club semi pro, salary capped league.
Time was you could drive from Tredegar to Llanelli and cover a distance that had a dozen or so better quality teams in it than the current regions. Sides like Pontypool, Pontypridd, Bridgend and Neath, not to mention the likes of Ebbw Vale, newbridge, Aberavon and Maestag were all capable of top quality performances. I accept that the depth of talent is not there compared to those days, but Wales should still be capable of producing better than we've seen in the 2020s = poor administration and complacency through the first Gatland period has got more to do with the present problems than a massive decline in numbers playimng the game in my opinion.
Madness to cut the Drags.
Would increasingly lose talent from that region to the west of England, they are about to turn over a profit (albeit small) and would and further pathways into the Cardiff region inflating its population size compared to the two remaining.
Makes sense to bin off the Scarlets due to their geographical size but suspect it'll be a merger between the O's and them.
Although I wouldn't be surprised if this is a hardball negotiation tactic to get them to sign the new deal.
Either way, what a wankers trick by the WRU. Away playing in SA, finding out your job may be going.
Cowards.
I'm no fan of Rugby or Newport but it seems unfair on them.
They've recently had a buy out by private investors one of them being my bosses brother so they are at least funding their Own ineptitude and not currently relying on wru handouts.
Doesn't the current URC contract come to an end in 2 years which is why the WRU have the option of triggering a 2 year notification to reduce to 3 or less teams. The reduction in numbers would coincide with a new URC contract therefore no penalty.
I'd be well pissed off, especially, as TOBW mentioned, they've just bailed out Cardiff.
Top-flight international rugby requires full-time professional club teams.
In the old days, teams like Pontypool, Neath, and Pontypridd, could attract healthy crowds for big fixtures, but could only support part-time players (boot money?). There just wasn't the money swishing around in the small towns of South Wales.
Regions seemed inevitable, if not desired. However, fan loyalty was underestimated. Your 'dyed-in-the-wool' Bridgend fan wasn't going to suddenly be standing on the Arms Park terracing cheering on Cardiff, nor the fervent Pontypool supporter heading to Rodney Parade.
Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea have to join the Guinness League for their own self-preservation. They are the only Welsh clubs that could compete in that set-up.
Totally agree but there’s other factors too.
Culture has changed, the days where the rugby club was the heart and soul of a community is now done whether better or for worse. Drinking cultures have changed. People’s hobbies have changed.
I can see why they’ve done it but it’s really going to alienate a lot of genuine fans.
British rugby needs a come-to-Jesus moment. It's not football. Too many players are trying to make a living out of the game, but the money's not there. It needs to return to being an amateur game with only the elite making a good living.
Rugby looked to football when it went pro, but there was always a pro rugby game in England, league. But, they failed to look at their structure. league's salary cap is just over £2 mill, whilst in the bankrupt English premiership it's closer to £6 mill and wales at £4.5mill
The average league salary is £38K whilst in union its between £100k~£170K. So i believe thats the debate.
Do you want average players getting paid at the expense of the better players who will go to England or France?
They won't be getting additional handouts, but they would still be getting the grant every year (currently 4.5 million going up to 6 I believe ). It's that grant money that the WRU want to save. Really hope the dragons don't go. Although if they do, it would probably be a good idea for them to just Rey and join the English leagues. Never understood why ponty didn't do that years ago, they've historically been shafted by the WRU aswell
I remember when Cardiff had a standoff with the WRU and played friendlies against the top sides in the English league for a season.
Even though the English sides said they'd field near full-strength sides, they didn't (understandable).
Nevertheless, the crowds at the Arms Park that season were really good. You could sense that when they were playing the likes of Saracens, Leicester, Wasps, etc. that there was a feeling amongst the home crowd that this was the way forward.
Newport used to have dual membership to the WRU and England RFU.They might try to join the English set up.
The Dragons are privately owned,it could end up in court much like Newport County
What a cock up.
Absolutely! What regions? There are no regions in a place as small as Wales; it's a region itself. This was just creating "super clubs" to the detriment of the support base and structure.
I've thought for years that regionalisation would have been a smoother road if the clubs had joined the English Premiership. It's been hard enough to convince people to support the regions, but it's even harder in the URC as your average Ospreys or Cardiff fan isn't arsed about playing Glasgow or Connacht or Zebre in the way they would be if they played Gloucester or Bath or Bristol every week.
I remember when Cardiff used to have fixtures against the likes of South Wales Police, Penarth, and Glamorgan Wanderers. You could hear the players calling for the ball, it was that soulless.
Then they'd play their annual friendly fixture against Bath on Boxing Day - the atmosphere would be fantastic. Surely the writing was on the wall even as far back then...
Probably better off having one Team Wales Cymru pro club and then having the amateur based clubs of old feed into it.
I'm assuming the old amateur clubs still run, like Cardiff rugby, Bridgend etc?
I agree entirely with you. Could you imagine the support the aforementioned clubs alone would bring!
Who knows, it might yet still happen. With the 2 year notice you'd imagine it's something the clubs would be exploring.
I'm still not entirely sure this is true anyway, as if a region did go (and I still don't think that would solve anything), surely it would be the Scarlets or the Ospreys. The Dragons might be awful on the field, but they're by far the most financially stable region.
Then again it's the WRU.
Absolutely disgusting!
I never liked the dragons but still supported Newport RFC.
My Dad will be gutted.
Fcuk the WRU!
The WRU are a self-preservation society. Old feckers in blazers, who are looking after their own interests.
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