In the following blog post, our new Director of Rugby and Elite Performance, Dave Reddin, outlines why now is the right time to look again at how Welsh rugby is structured.
In it he outlines how thinking differently will help us weather the storm facing the game globally and make sure that we are considering every factor to help us create a way forward that is both uniquely Welsh and leads to improved results on the pitch.
I am already a few months into working with the Welsh Rugby Union, having worked behind the scenes since July before officially starting on the 1st of September, and it is fair to say that my expectations coming into this new role have been matched by my first impressions. Yes, we know there are challenges, but there are also opportunities and a huge amount of passion too. Everyone I have met and worked with so far has showed that and this has filled me with confidence that we can achieve something special and unique here – and that is exactly the type of challenge I wanted to be part of.
In my career I have worked with the England rugby team, Team GB at the Olympics and The FA in football, but this opportunity is unlike anything else, not least because of what the game means in Wales, and it is that passion, meaning and history, that make this one of the best jobs in world rugby right now, and I am delighted and honoured to be here.
But let’s not shy away from what is in front of us – performances must improve.
You as the Welsh rugby community deserve to see a winning Wales and with the memories of Grand Slam’s and World Cup runs still in recent memory, I know from speaking with fans that the recent run of results has been very hard to take, in both the senior men’s and women’s games and at professional club level.
It was wonderful to see the team under Caretaker coach, Matt Sherratt and his team, get the monkey off our back with that vital win out in Japan, but for us to ensure that we can build on that with our new Head Coach, Steve Tandy, we have to look at the whole system to ensure that every factor is considered and everything we do as a union is set up to drive success on the field.
From a global perspective, rugby is in a difficult period, facing an unwelcome perfect storm of headwinds which includes pressure on finances, player participation and fan engagement, while here in Wales that pain is also being felt, particularly with our professional clubs, in the last few years.
For me and the team here, it is clear that the elite Welsh rugby system is no longer achieving its aims, despite the unmistakeable passion and enthusiasm for the game in Wales. We can’t stand by and hope that changes, we need to act now if we are to come out of this difficult period ahead of the pack – and let’s be clear, we won’t be the only Union sitting down and taking stock.
That is why now is the right time to look again at how rugby is structured in Wales and that is why now is the right time to consult and engage on how we can get this right.
As part of my role, I’ve been working with the team here in developing the ‘proposed optimal system’ that we are now out there discussing with everyone. This work was about imagining the future, raising our ambitions and finding what the best approach would look like not just on the field but in all the supporting functions as well.
In Welsh rugby, winning matters. It’s a big part of what gives our fans their pride and joy, and it’s what the public wants to see more of. We believe Wales has the capability to win consistently again, but doing so requires a system designed not just to exist, but to succeed.
That’s why the model we’re putting forward for consultation is an interconnected system, one where every element works together to be greater than the sum of its parts. A key part of this proposal is the number of professional clubs. We’re suggesting a structure built around two men’s professional teams and two women’s professional teams.
We believe that by focusing resources on two clubs, we can elevate their funding, staffing, and squad depth to a level where they can genuinely compete for domestic and European honours.
At the same time, this approach would free up investment for the wider game. Instead of spreading resources too thinly, we can build a strategic ecosystem that strengthens the sport for the medium and long term and ensures that we create sustainable success and opportunities at every level of the game – for me, that is where the value lies.
But, as I have said before this is a proposal, no decisions have been made, but we wanted to be open about what we feel is the way forward so we could have an informed conversation and focus your feedback, not on a blank sheet of paper, but on the proposed optimal system and what that means for Welsh rugby.
I know that what we have proposed will not be for everyone, but this is why we are consulting with those directly impacted by any potential changes and also giving the wider rugby community opportunities to have your say in our public engagement survey. While we have our own ideas based on research, we know the best solutions will come from listening. I hope people will find our approach is respectful, thorough, and inclusive, and we’re actively encouraging people to challenge our ideas and help us create something we can all get behind.
In practice, that means I’m spending a lot of time this month not talking but listening. We’ve set up meetings with an extensive group of stakeholders including the four professional clubs, the players’ union, coaches, community clubs and supporters’ groups. My job in those sessions is to give the space for stakeholders to speak their mind, listen carefully and ask the right questions to make sure I understand fully what is being communicated.
So, I’m here to listen and to lead – in that order. By the end of this consultation, I hope we’ll have a clear, collectively built plan for the road ahead, and that everyone in Welsh rugby feels they’ve had the chance to contribute. We’ve still got a lot of people to meet and viewpoints to hear, and I’m genuinely interested in all of it.
To close, I’d like to share a proverb that has always resonated with me ; ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’. We have to bring the whole of the Welsh rugby community with us on this journey. And, together, if we get this right, I truly believe we can create a system that delivers the success on the field that this proud rugby nation deserves.
