The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is entering into formal consultation with Wales’ four regional clubs and other key stakeholders which will lead to a restructure in the domestic professional game by season 2027/28, it was announced today.
The consultation period will take place over August and September with the regional clubs and players being the primary stakeholder groups to contribute, but a comprehensive engagement programme will ensure all representative groups of the game in Wales have the opportunity to contribute.
The consultation will cover the entire high-performance framework from pathways to professional club structure and the senior men’s and women’s game.
The WRU Board has already publicly confirmed it does not see the system continuing with the current model of four equally funded regional clubs in the senior men’s game.
The current rugby system in Wales, which includes national teams, professional clubs, community clubs, academies, universities and schools isn’t delivering consistent success on the field and isn’t currently financially sustainable given the likely investment required, even with the recent actions taken to increase financial resources.
Based on its extensive work over the past 18-months, including ongoing consultation with the four professional men’s clubs, the WRU is therefore considering a more radical strategy focused on maximising investment and reforming the whole structure of professional rugby in Wales (amongst other options).
The changes would be aimed at boosting Welsh rugby as a whole: the academies, the Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) and Celtic Challenge competitions (men’s and women’s semi-pro game), professional clubs and the national teams for both men and women.
In order to determine the changes to be made, we will be conducting a comprehensive and transparent consultation process with our key stakeholders. The input and feedback gathered from the consultation process will be invaluable.
Key potential developments to be consulted on include:
- Further investment in the SRC to strengthen the semi-professional game in Wales.
- A significant investment in player development and pathways
- A national centre providing a place of development for our elite players, coaches and support staff
- The best rugby leadership and decision-making model for the whole of the professional game in Wales
- Whether there should be a reduction to three or two regional men’s teams, to ensure that we have teams that can compete at the top of the professional game
- Our professional sides being home to both our men’s and women’s teams
The funding model to underpin success, to ensure that the new model is financially sustainable and that teams are long term investable propositions in partnership with the WRU
The WRU is seeking to introduce changes in this way because of the current status of its senior men’s professional game, acknowledging that:
Welsh rugby has experienced a deterioration in performance on and off the field and, statistically, has just had its worst season ever in its senior men’s game.
All stakeholders want Welsh rugby to be successful at all levels of the game.
Stakeholders understandably have different perspectives and must prioritise their own interests by default.
Solutions have not yet emerged through consensus
The timetable for consultation and finalising the strategy will be as follows:
- August – WRU Board approval of strategy for consultation and commencement of formal consultation period
- September – Consultation and engagement process
- October – WRU Board approval of strategy and confirmation to all stakeholders