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Wales Online
2 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as future of Welsh game to be decided and Farrell to make big announcement
Today's rugby news as future of Welsh game to be decided and Farrell to make big announcement The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond The WRU and the country's four professional teams are set to meet to discuss the future of Welsh rugby (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Wednesday, June 18. Future of Welsh game set to be decided The future direction of the professional game in Wales could be decided today in a meeting between the Welsh Rugby Union and its four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. Welsh rugby powerbrokers are seriously considering cutting the number of professional clubs in Wales to three if not two, while a tiered funding model is another option. All four clubs were on the verge of signing a new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) but the WRU's takeover of Cardiff after the club entered administration changed everything. Both the Ospreys and Scarlets were concerned the WRU could turn Cardiff into a "super region" which would disadvantage the west Wales clubs. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. In the end both Cardiff and the Dragons signed the new PRA which includes increased and fixed funding along with significant debt relief. Article continues below But the west Wales duo opted against it prompting the WRU to activate the two-year notice clause on the old PRA. That left the professional game in Wales on a precipice with the WRU announcing it would no longer fund four clubs equally. But the direction of travel is pointing towards a reduction of professional teams. The WRU are expecting to reveal their plan in a Professional Rugby Board meeting later today. Farrell to name team to face Argentina British & Irish Lions boss Andy Farrell is set to name his squad for the upcoming warm-up clash with Argentina today. The Lions taken on the Pumas in Dublin on Friday night, with captain Maro Itoje expected to earn his 100th Test cap in international rugby. Blair Kinghorn is still unavailable due to Toulouse reaching the Top 14 semi-finals, while Will Stuart has been tipped to feature in some form, with Farrell seemingly short on tighthead prop options. Zander Ferguson has been ruled out for the start of the tour and has been replaced in the squad by Finlay Bealham, who seems likely to start. Tadhg Furlong, meanwhile, remains a fitness concern. Jack van Poortvielt is unlikely to feature as he was drafted in purely for training purposes. Instead, Tomos Williams and Alex Mitchell are expected to battle it out for the starting scrum-half role. Farrell is set to name his squad at 4pm BST. Farrell Jnr not thinking about Lions call Meanwhile, Owen Farrell says he's not thinking about the possibility of a late call from his dad to join up with the Lions squad, having secured a return to Saracens. The 33-year-old has cut short his stay in France with Racing 92, having previously announced he was stepping away from Test rugby with England after the 2023 World Cup. However, he insists he hasn't retired from international rugby. The fly-half wasn't included in the 38-man squad picked by his dad last month, but he has nevertheless left the door open for a potential late call. 'There's nothing for me to do other than concentrate on getting myself back (at Saracens) and getting myself in the best place I possibly can do. Everything else is hypothetical," he said. Asked if the prospect of being drafted in by Farrell senior was a reasonable one, he added: 'I'm not thinking like that. I think if you do start thinking like that you can tie yourself in knots. All that I can do is focus on what I've got going on and get myself in the best place I can be.' Ford hungry for more PA staff George Ford remains 'hungry' for more challenges ahead as he closes in on a century of England Test appearances. The Sale fly-half is in line to become only the seventh man to reach the century milestone when England tour Argentina and the United States next month. With players who have been called up to the British and Irish Lions for their tour to Australia not considered for selection, both Fin Smith and Marcus Smith will not be involved for the two Tests against the Pumas or the match with the USA at Audi Field in Washington on July 19. Ford – part of Steve Borthwick's 36-man training squad for next weekend's match against a France XV – played in the 2019 World Cup final and has won three Six Nations titles as well as the Premiership twice with Leicester. The 32-year-old, though, remains determined to deliver more at the highest level. 'It (100 caps) is a milestone and one I would be very proud to achieve. To get anywhere near 100 caps for your country shows the level of consistency you need to do that,' Ford told reporters at England's training base in Bagshot. 'Having said that, I am not looking to get to 100 and stop. It is not the end goal, 100 and I will walk away into the distance. 'I still believe that I can perform and play at this very top level and I am excited and hungry to do so. 'When or if it happens, you make your family proud – that is the biggest thing for me. 'The commitment and choices and sacrifice they have made to allow me to have the career I have had; milestones are nice for people like my family.' Ford feels being deployed in a 'game manager's position' at the heart of the side can help eke a few more years out of a playing career. 'I think fly-half, scrum-half, it is one of the few positions where you probably see people like Johnny Sexton, Dan Biggar, going into their late 30s,' Ford said. 'You are in a game manager's position and you are in the middle of the field. A lot of it is mental and experience, managing games and making decisions, influencing the team. 'As opposed to a winger, where physically you probably have to be at the top of your game. 'I think it's got the potential to do that. I feel good physically, I am hungry, that is the important thing. Article continues below 'I am still driven to play at this top level and perform at the top level. I am probably as motivated as I have ever been.'
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
The people in the room who are now deciding Welsh rugby's future
The people in the room who are now deciding Welsh rugby's future There are a number of key stakeholders A significant Welsh rugby meeting will be held on Wednesday (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Behind closed doors, the future structure of the professional game in Wales is being decided and all the signs are that big change is coming. The Welsh Rugby Union and its four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - are currently locked in discussions as to what the best way forward for Welsh rugby is. Just a few short months ago Welsh rugby was set to continue with four clubs but as it stands there is the very likely possibility of reducing to three or two professional sides, while a tiered funding model is also under consideration. A crucial Professional Rugby Board (PRB) meeting is set for Wednesday this week where the direction of travel is expected to become clearer. But who are the key players involved in shaping the direction of professional rugby in Wales? Here are the people in the room and influencing talks in the corridors of power. WRU and Cardiff Of course, WRU CEO Abi Tierney and chair Richard Collier-Keywood are key players here. As CEO the onus is on Tierney to reach a solution with the professional clubs to take to the WRU board for approval. Tierney had settled on a new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25) which would have resulted in both fixed and an increased level of funding but crucially the debt acquired during Covid would also get refinanced. Article continues below All four sides were about to sign but the WRU's takeover of Cardiff after the club fell into administration changed everything. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. In the end the Dragons signed PRA 25 but both the Ospreys and Scarlets had serious doubts over the fairness of the union owning Cardiff, fearing they may turn the capital city club into a "super region" at the expense of the other three. They refused to sign, which prompted the WRU to activate the two-year notice clause on the previous PRA and set in motion big change. As a result, PRA 25 is off the table for the west Wales clubs and there is no going back, meaning a new structure for the professional game is in the offing. Tierney is tasked with coming up with the optimum structure for the professional game. The consistently poor performances of the men's national team who have lost a record 17 Test matches on the bounce will have financial ramifications for the rest of the game. As far as the WRU are concerned they have to find a way to get the national team winning consistently again because this pays for the rest of the game in Wales. With this in mind chief financial officer Leighton Davies, who is also the chief commercial officer, has a big part to play. The WRU needs to find the best model where it cannot just fund professional teams to survive but also give them the platform to thrive. It is accepted for the men's national team to get back to pre-2019 levels it needs professional teams competing for European silverware every season, which means the playing budgets need to be in the region of £9m, with significantly higher investment into the academies. Can they do this with four professional clubs? PRB chair Malcolm Wall - who is also on the WRU board - will also have a big role to play, while the likes of independent non-executive directors like Andrew Williams and Jamie Roberts will inevitably have a say. It would also be very strange if the WRU's new director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin was not also consulted. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Reddin does not start in a permanent capacity until September but he is heavily involved in the search for a head coach and must surely have an opinion on what the optimum structure for Welsh rugby looks like. Dragons RFC The Dragons have signed PRA 25 which means they will have fixed and increased funding for the next three years. Historically they have been the weakest Welsh club but have the best balance sheet and own their own stadium. There are four key figures here in the ownership group which includes the chair David Wright along with David Buttress and Hoyoung Huh. Highly-rated CEO Rhys Blumberg also represents the Dragons on the PRA, so he is also a key figure here. Ospreys As the CEO, Lance Bradley has been the voice of the Ospreys for the past 18 months and has regularly fronted up to both supporters on social media and the press. Despite a period of huge uncertainty Bradley has moved to assure Ospreys supporters the redevelopment of St Helens will be going ahead. The Ospreys submitted a planning application a couple of weeks ago and intend to move into their new home by the end of the year. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free But given the WRU have called in the two-year notice on PRA 23, the future of both the Ospreys and Scarlets cannot be guaranteed. But when it comes to decision making at the Ospreys surrounding the new structure of Welsh rugby, majority shareholders Y11 Sport & Media, along with former chairman and significant funding director Rob Davies are the key players. Along with Davies, Y11 CEO James Davies-Yandle and its chief operating officer Nick Angio are thought to be important figures. Article continues below Scarlets Executive chairman James Davies-Yandle represents the Scarlets on the PRB and is a key figure in the current talks. The Scarlets board includes a number of key funding directors such as former chairmen Nigel Short, Ron Jones and Huw Evans along with Philip Davies. Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels is also an important figure given his extensive knowledge and experience of Welsh rugby's development pathways.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
WRU to meet with regions for crunch talks as bosses braced for significant development
WRU to meet with regions for crunch talks as bosses braced for significant development A pivotal meeting will take place this week with the game in Wales still shrouded in uncertainty The WRU and the regions will meet this week (Image: Getty Images for Barbarians ) The Welsh Rugby Union is set to meet with its four professional clubs this week - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - in a bid to map a way forward for the game in Wales. Professional Rugby Board meetings are commonplace but WalesOnline understands this Wednesday's meeting is of particular importance. The game in Wales has been thrown into disarray in recent months after the WRU's acquisition of Cardiff led to the Ospreys and Scarlets not signing the new Professional Rugby Agreement. As of next season both Cardiff and the Dragons will be on PRA 25 while the west Wales clubs will remain on the old one, with less funding. The WRU are seriously considering cutting the number of professional clubs in Wales to three or two, while a tiered funding model is also being talked about. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Those within the regional game expect the WRU to put forward a clear direction of travel this week, whether that be a reduction in professional clubs or a tiered funding model. The WRU have already announced they will no longer fund the four clubs equally, but cutting to three or two seems to be the likeliest outcome. Article continues below Wales' struggles at senior Test level — they have lost a record 17 Test matches in a row — has serious financial ramifications for the game in this country. The focus is on creating the optimum structure which can allow the men's national side to become a force to be reckoned with once again. To do this there is an acceptance that the professional game which underpins the national team must drag itself out of the mediocrity it has been confined to for much of the past 15 years. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free The WRU needs its professional clubs to be regularly competing in the latter stages of the Investec Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship with the aim of winning silverware. Whether this can be achieved with four clubs is under review, while implementing an aggressive, tiered funding model is arguably as challenging as cutting a team, given the ownership structure of Welsh rugby. Whatever route they choose to go down, players under contract will get looked after. Article continues below The WRU wants to announce its new structure for the professional game in September but WalesOnline understands the aim is to have something in place by July. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. It is too late to make any significant change for next season with the 2026/27 season the likeliest outcome.
Wales Online
11-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Welsh rugby's possible new future as behind-scenes talks reach crucial stage
Welsh rugby's possible new future as behind-scenes talks reach crucial stage Talks are happening in Welsh rugby's corridors of power and it is clear change must and will happen, Steffan Thomas reports Change is coming to Welsh rugby this summer (Image: Huw Evans ) The future direction of Welsh rugby will be shaped this summer. That is no exaggeration. Wales effectively has two choices: it can limp on as it is and consign itself to a future of mediocrity at best or it can radically change the structure of the game in this country to give itself the best chance of sustained success. The penny has dropped with the Welsh Rugby Union and the Professional Rugby Board are working very hard behind the scenes to come up with a solution. The problems do not need another in-depth explanation. The men's national team have lost their previous 17 Test matches - a tier one record - and the four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - have struggled to attain any sort of sustained success. Something has to change and things cannot go on as they are. Article continues below When the men's national side struggles it has a negative knock-on effect on the whole of Welsh rugby from a financial sense. Yes, there are some talented youngsters in the current Wales squad who will get better, while there are some potentially outstanding players emerging from the pathway, but the WRU needs to produce the optimum structure to give them the best chance of developing. Currently Wales' talent is spread too thinly across four professional clubs, while there are also a plethora of Welsh-qualified players in England. During the 2024/25 season, the Welsh clubs were operating from a salary cap of £4.5m, although that will rise next season at Cardiff and the Dragons who have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement. The Gallagher Premiership salary cap this season was £6.4m which can rise to as high as £7.8m with home-grown player credits, international player credits and extra money for injury dispensation, while they are permitted one marquee player above the cap. In Ireland, Leinster have been significantly more well-resourced than the other three provinces - Connacht, Munster and Ulster - although this gap is closing next season. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. It is very difficult to pin down Leinster's exact playing budgets but Irish sources have told WalesOnline it is in the region of €10.6m Crucially, in Ireland, professional sportsmen get a tax break when they retire which means the sides in Ireland don't have to pay their players as much. For example, a professional player in Wales might be on £120,000 at the Scarlets but get offered £180,000 to sign for Exeter Chiefs. In Ireland a player might be on £120,000 at Munster but get offered £180,000 to sign for an English club but if he stays in Ireland he will be able to claim money back upon retirement. The Irish Government also puts huge investment into professional sport. For example, Connacht received a €10 million grant through the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund to go towards the development of a new stadium in Galway. These are issues outside of the WRU's control but if it wants professional clubs who are competing for silverware every season they are likely to need playing budgets in the region of £9m. The reality is it cannot do this with four clubs any longer and that is why it is looking at the prospect of reducing to three, if not two, professional sides. For the national side to get back to winning Six Nations Grand Slams it needs its professional clubs competing every year in the latter stages of the Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship, if not winning it. This requires a greater squad spend but also creating an elitist high-performance system built on extremely high standards. For example, Leinster have a squad of 58 players and there is huge cohesion in terms of partnerships, which benefits Ireland at Test level. If you look at Leinster's front-row they have the likes of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong as starters but on the bench they have further internationals in the shape of Ronan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson, along with a senior France international in Rabah Slimani. To put it into context their two first choice hookers are in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer. That is the level of depth and competition for places needed for Welsh rugby to thrive. Also, with greater depth there will be less of a drop off when teams suffer injuries. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free There are also 32 non-Welsh qualified players in Wales, so fewer professional clubs would result in a significant reduction, but the ones that are signed should in theory be marquee players in the same bracket as All Blacks superstar Jordie Barrett who is on a sabbatical at Leinster. At international level Ireland is mainly Leinster with the likes of Tadhg Beirne and Bundee Aki added in on top. The players are all in sync with each other and also benefit from being part of a squad which is regularly competing at the cutting edge of competitions. Wales needs to produce something similar. Two or three clubs competing every year in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup as a minimum, with the aim of winning is what is being discussed behind closed doors. It is close to impossible to achieve this with four clubs. Talent needs to be concentrated to increase competition for places which should in theory drive up standards across the board which was the thinking behind moving to regional rugby back in 2003. Also, it should also be an aim of the WRU to have at least one club participate in the financially lucrative Club World Cup which will be launched in 2028. Latter stage participation will also significantly improve commercial performances and bring in money across the board. But what also needs to be taken into consideration is what structure underpins the professional game. A new-look Super Rygbi Cymru If the WRU decides to reduce to three or two clubs there needs to be greater investment in Super Rygbi Cymru so it can potentially mirror New Zealand's NPC. The first season of SRC has been positive with the competition achieving far greater alignment to the pathway than the old Welsh Premiership did. But the gap between the professional game and the SRC still needs to be bridged significantly before it is anywhere near the level on offer in New Zealand. But if the WRU reduces the number of professional sides it will have the money to invest in the SRC to significantly increase standards, interest among fans who still hold famous club names dear and commercial possibilities. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Naturally, there will also be more professional standard players available to SRC teams if there are fewer professional clubs. If we go down to two professional clubs they will have far deeper squads and will release a greater percentage of players to play in the SRC. Article continues below The discussions at PRB level have to focus on what is needed to get the men's national side competing at the top end of the world game again The way to do that is to have professional clubs regularly competing for and winning silverware. Those at the top of Welsh are increasingly aware the status quo simply cannot deliver that.
Wales Online
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as Welsh players fear for their jobs amid dispute and Wales play England
Today's rugby news as Welsh players fear for their jobs amid dispute and Wales play England The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world Scarlets and Ospreys players face an uncertain time amid the ongoing dispute with the WRU (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Here are your rugby morning headlines for Friday, June 6. Hook: Players are worried amid WRU uncertainty James Hook says Welsh rugby players are fearing for their jobs amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the game in Wales. The Ospreys and Scarlets have refused to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement, with the WRU activating its two-year notice period on the old PRA. Next season, Cardiff and the Dragons, who have signed the agreement, will receive more funding than the other two sides, while a future that still includes four professional sides in Wales looks bleak. The WRU have confirmed it will not return to the previous model of four equally funded sides, with various independent reports concluding Wales should cut a team. It's understood the Union is now seriously considering reducing to three, or even just two pro teams. And former Wales and Ospreys fly-half Hook, who is part of the coaching set-up at the region, has urged the Union to offer some clarity as soon as possible, not only to the players, but the fans who support both clubs. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "There needs to be a roadmap and some reassurance," Hook said on Scrum V. Article continues below "People go on about the fans are worried - the players are worried. Especially with the Scarlets and the Ospreys not signing (the PRA), they have got their own reasons, which is fair enough, but the players will rightly be worried for their jobs. "Because no one has come out and given a roadmap about how it's going to look." It's believed the WRU hope to have the future thrashed out within the next few months, but the prospect of legal action from the Scarlets and Ospreys is likely to complicate things. The Union has withdrawn the offer of the new PRA to the the two regions and it is unclear how any decision on the number of sides will play out. Wales play England today Wales Under 20s play England today in a match that will go a long way to deciding who makes the squad for the World Championship later this month. Wales' promising age-grade side will be looking to repeat the shock win over the English that proved to be Welsh rugby's result of the season during the Six Nations. Richard Whiffin's side won 23-13 at the Arms Park in March - a statement victory that destroyed their rivals' Grand Slam hopes. Today's match at Pontypool Park (KO 3pm) is the first of two warm-up matches before the Under-20s World Cup begins in Italy against Argentina on June 29. Number eight Evan Minto captains the side. "We've had guys in camp for three weeks working super hard and they deserve an opportunity," said coach Whiffin. "We said to the group at the start of the campaign we were going to use it as a selection game in terms of whittling the squad down from 45 down to 30 so there will be guys playing on Friday night putting their hands up for the plane ticket to Italy. "So pressure goes onto those guys but ultimately if they can perform on Friday in a big game against England then it sets them up well for the World Cup." Wales U20s: Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); Ioan Duggan (Dragons), Elijah Evans (Cardiff), Elis Price (Scarlets), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears); Harri Ford (Dragons), Sion Davies (Cardiff); Cam Tyler-Grocott (Cardiff), Saul Hurley (Aberavon), Owain James (Dragons), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears), Ryan Jones (Dragons), Caio James (Gloucester), Evan Minto (Captain - Dragons). Replacements: Evan Wood (Pontypool), Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (Cardiff), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester), Harry Beddall (Dragons), Logan Franklin (Dragons), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff), Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Jack Woods (Bath), Dylan Alford (Scarlets). Halfpenny thanks 'special club' Harlequins Leigh Halfpenny has penned a heartfelt thank-you letter to Harlequins after his season-long stint at The Stoop came to an end. The 36-year-old is still hoping to continue playing, however yesterday he was announced as part of Matt Sherratt's coaching staff for the summer tour of Japan. While the role is only a temporary one, it is likely that his future will travel down that route once he hangs up his boots for good. For now, though, it's on to pastures new, with the full-back linked with a move to French outfit Beziers. But the Wales and Lions legend signed off from his Quins stint in typically classy fashion. "Thank you Harlequins for an unforgettable season," he wrote on Instagram. "Have loved every minute of my time at the club and will treasure the memories and relationships we've made both on and off the field with this special group. "A big thank you to the players, coaches, staff and especially the fans for making me and my family feel so welcome. "I'm grateful to have worn the Quarters and proud to have represented such a special club." Glasgow confident Leinster can be beaten By Anthony Brown, PA Assistant coach Nigel Carolan stressed that defending champions Glasgow are not heading to Dublin as URC semi-final no-hopers this weekend as he pointed out that hosts Leinster are not infallible. Warriors were thrashed 52-0 by the Irish side in the Champions Cup quarter-final in April and then lost 13-5 when they faced them in the last match of the regular league campaign three weeks ago. However, Carolan is taking heart from the fact Leinster lost a semi-final at Aviva Stadium just a month ago when they were eliminated from the Champions Cup by Northampton. "They're not superhuman," said the coach. "They're humans after all. They're only players. They're not a team that are going to get it right all the time. Anything can happen in a knockout game." Asked if Glasgow would have any scar tissue from their heavy defeat against Leinster two months ago, Carolan said: "I think it's in the back of your mind, of course, but you look at Leinster as well, they're probably more scarred from their defeat in the semi-final against Northampton, and that's something that continues to be alluded to. "But as a sportsperson, you can only be next-game focused. You try and right the wrongs, you try and learn from what you can and try and do a better job the next time. I think that's what we've done. I think we're in a good space, definitely travelling over to Leinster this time, even more so than we were three weeks ago. "Maybe it was a dead-rubber game, but I definitely think physically we were in a good position, our mindset was right to play and we certainly asked some good questions of Leinster. There's enough of a template there to know that if that's the way we can travel again, we'll ask good questions this time as well." Leinster have not won a major trophy since their URC triumph in 2021 and Carolan believes there will be pressure on the Irish side. "Albeit we have the champions tag, they're at home, they've got a serious quality team, a world-class team," he said. Article continues below "Obviously their expectations were to be a lot higher in the Champions Cup and they've missed out on that. "There's a lot of pressure on them to get silverware this year and it's up to us to try and get that trophy back to Scotland. "All we can do is focus on ourselves and put as much pressure on Leinster as we can, try and play the best version of our game. If we do that, we know we'll put pressure on them and who knows what will happen?"
