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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
22-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Four Welsh teams is no longer viable, it's as simple as that
Four Welsh teams is no longer viable, it's as simple as that Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas has laid bare the brutal reality of Welsh rugby's latest crisis in the latest Inside Welsh Rugby newsletter Flags with the four Welsh clubs' badges ahead of Judgement Day (Image: Getty Images ) There is rarely a dull moment in Welsh rugby, but this summer promises to be more turbulent than any that has come before. The Ospreys and Scarlets' decision not to sign the Professional Rugby Agreement has seen the WRU pull the plug on the current Welsh rugby landscape and thrown the game into complete uncertainty. Ospreys and Scarlets say they refused to sign the PRA until they received additional clarifications on the sums of money going into Cardiff, which I understand could amount to £2-3m, after the WRU took on the role of benefactor. They say this was not an unreasonable request and it's hard to disagree with them. In the wake of the WRU activating the two-year notice period on the old PRA, the game in Wales now faces the real prospect of having to reduce the number of professional clubs to three. As it stands, next season we will have a tiered funding model whereby Cardiff and the Dragons will receive significantly higher playing budgets than the west Walian clubs, along with significant debt Dragons have come in for some unjust criticism from some quarters for signing up to the deal, but the responsibility of the club's board was to ensure their survival along with plotting a path for a future where they can thrive. As of next season, both Cardiff and the Dragons will have playing budgets of £5.4m, which will then rise to £6.2m the following year and £7.2m the year after. In comparison it is believed the Ospreys and Scarlets will have budgets under £5m next season. On top of this, they will still be saddled with debt acquired during Covid and will not receive the £3m worth of debt relief the others will. Article continues below This is a scenario that would simply not be financially viable as the months tick on. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. On the old PRA, any upside in the WRU's profit goes to the professional clubs but if the governing body underachieves that hurts the clubs. You win with the union and you lose with the union and the Ospreys and Scarlets will be in that position next season. The performance of the WRU has undoubtedly been hit by the struggles of the men's national team through lower ticket sales at lower prices. Six Nations competition prize money is significantly down over the past year or two, while increased National Insurance contributions have also hit WRU finances. I also understand the clawbacks facing those in the west next season are significant because of the underachievement of the WRU in the last financial Ospreys and Scarlets have valid concerns, but the new PRA is off the table and the future of professional rugby in west Wales is in an extremely precarious position. According to WRU insiders, the funding directors at the professional clubs will now be required to contribute £41m over the next fiver years, up from £22m. Think about that for a minute when considering how all this may play are huge problems ahead but there has to be professional rugby in west Wales. It's just a matter of how that looks. Since 2015, 49% of Wales internationals have originated from either the Ospreys or Scarlets academy which emphasises their contribution to Welsh rugby. Rugby is an emotional subject in Wales, and when the news emerged over the weekend, it landed like a lead balloon on social media. Supporters of the four professional teams have responded with understandable fury. Why four teams is no longer an option Many view the proposal on the table to cut to three teams as short-sighted and unambitious, warning that it could shrink the nation's playing pool, further weaken the national side, and disenfranchise a large segment of the Welsh rugby public. In the latest edition of the Inside Welsh Rugby newsletter, Steffan Thomas goes on to outline why four professional clubs in Wales is no longer a sustainable option. The full newsletter is available to both free and paid subscribers in full and you can sign up here to read it. Inside Welsh Rugby is a weekly newsletter which gets under the skin of the game in Wales, attempting to get to the heart of the issues and biggest stories. Article continues below Written by WalesOnline rugby correspondents Steffan Thomas and Ben James, it takes readers deep into the heart of Welsh rugby, while also shining a light on problems which need to be fixed in order for the game to flourish. There is also be deep-dive analysis, explaining to readers exactly what's happening on and off the pitch. Sign up here
Wales Online
11-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
The WRU face huge challenge from the west - fail to sort it and things could go nuclear
The WRU face huge challenge from the west - fail to sort it and things could go nuclear Welsh rugby is once again at a crossroads after yet another period of tremendous upheaval - the Inside Welsh Rugby Substack looks at how it's happened The WRU are facing a challenge from west Wales clubs Scarlets and Ospreys (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) There is never a dull moment in Welsh rugby. Just when things looked to be settling down and a new Professional Rugby Agreement was nearing completion, Cardiff entered administration, prompting the Welsh Rugby Union to assume ownership of the capital city club. It was the right move by the WRU and there are very few people who would argue against that decision, but it has evidently caused issues elsewhere and has put the brakes on the new PRA. Cardiff's situation has put a significant spanner in the works. The WRU are desperate to get the PRA over the line because a deadline has been set by NatWest to refinance the debt acquired by all four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - during Covid. The WRU is looking to take on around £35m of new debt which would refinance its existing NatWest and Welsh Government facilities of £30m. Article continues below There is Welsh Government debt of £12.5m which was passed through to the clubs via the WRU. The idea is to increase funding but crucially improve the balance sheets of the clubs by taking away the debt they acquired during Covid. But the banks will not agree to refinance the debt on the current PRA because any uplift in income is supposed to go to the four professional clubs, which they see as too much of a risk. But on the flip side both the Ospreys and Scarlets currently see it as too much of a risk to sign the new PRA, which has created a stalemate.... Want to read more? In the latest edition of the Inside Welsh Rugby newsletter, Steffan Thomas looks at how Welsh rugby has found itself at this point again. You can sign up here Inside Welsh Rugby is a weekly newsletter which gets under the skin of the game in Wales, attempting to get to the heart of the issues and biggest stories. Article continues below Written by WalesOnline rugby correspondents Steffan Thomas and Ben James, it takes readers deep into the heart of Welsh rugby, while also shining a light on problems which need to be fixed in order for the game to flourish. There is also be deep-dive analysis, explaining to readers exactly what's happening on and off the pitch. Sign up here
Wales Online
07-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
The WRU ultimatum explained as ticking clock could now blow everything apart
The WRU ultimatum explained as ticking clock could now blow everything apart The future direction of the professional game in Wales is at stake The Welsh Rugby Union (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) The future of rugby in Wales is at another critical stage as the Welsh Rugby Union attempts to push through a new Professional Rugby Agreement. As WalesOnline exclusively revealed on Tuesday night, the Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets have been given a deadline of Thursday night to sign the new PRA or decisive action will be taken by the governing body, which could lead to seismic changes within the game. This will involve serving the three teams with the required two-year notice period that they intend to end the current PRA and potentially transform the rugby landscape in Wales. Going down this path undoubtedly throws the clubs' futures into long-term doubt, with the WRU able to revoke licences at the end of the notice period. Cardiff, of course, are now owned by the WRU after the capital club's financial collapse last month. So, what does it all mean and what is likely to happen next? Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas takes a deep dive into the current situation. What are the WRU trying to push through? The WRU are attempting to push through a new PRA which they are confident will bring financial stability to Wales' four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. Article continues below They believe the current PRA is not fit for purpose and need to push the clubs onto the new deal as soon as possible after a protracted stalemate that has gone on long enough. The new PRA will see increased funding to the clubs with the intention of moving the salary cap from £4.5m to £6.9m by financial year 2029, although two marquee players are permitted above the cap. But the key element of the new PRA is the WRU's attempt to refinance the debt at all four clubs, which it will transfer onto its own balance sheet. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. The WRU is looking to take on around £35m of new debt which would refinance its existing NatWest and Welsh Government facilities of £30m. There is Welsh Government debt of £12.5m which was passed through to the clubs via the WRU. The idea is to increase funding but crucially improve the balance sheets of the club's by taking away the debt they acquired during Covid. This makes them sustainable and attractive to investors. What is the hold up? In February the WRU announced all four clubs had agreed to the new PRA in principle, but had not put pen to paper. But things have changed dramatically since then. Cardiff Rugby entered administration last month after Helford Capital failed to meet its financial obligations. As a result, Cardiff are now under WRU ownership and this is where negotiations have hit a wall. The acquisition of Cardiff and its assets cost the WRU £780,000, with the governing body taking £3.1m of what was the club's £9m debt, with £6m left to its new Cardiff Subsidiary Company. But under the new PRA the funding directors at all four clubs are required to act as personal guarantors to cover any funding deficit. As far as Cardiff are concerned the WRU are now its benefactor and are planning to put in £2.1m extra. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free The private clubs understandably have some concerns and have questions which need answering. They believe the £2.1m of benefactor contribution the WRU are spending on Cardiff should also be spent on the other three under the spirit of fairness. There are also concerns from the other three that the WRU will attempt to turn Cardiff into a super club, a bit like the Irish Rugby Football Union have done with Leinster, but to a lesser extent. WalesOnline understands the three clubs have suggested changing the voting rights on the Professional Rugby Board, given Cardiff are now owned by the WRU. They have also questioned whether Cardiff should be permitted to sign any players from the other three clubs while owned by the WRU. When approached by WalesOnline, the WRU have refuted the accusation it is attempting to turn Cardiff into a super club which would be funded significantly higher than the other three clubs, as long as they sign the new PRA. The WRU want to sell Cardiff within two years and have created a pack for investors which will be published next week. Of course, the Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets could all sign by the deadline and everything carries on. Why are the WRU so desperate to get the clubs to sign a new PRA by Thursday? This is the key part. Natwest will not agree to refinance the debt under the current PRA. This is because under the old agreement any uplift the WRU gets in terms of profit goes to the four professional clubs. But, understandably, the banks see this as too much of a risk and won't refinance the debt if those terms still exist because they want their money back. The WRU are at a stage where they are desperate for the new PRA to be signed because this is what the banks demand in return for refinancing the debt on very favourable terms. Clearly Cardiff will sign the new deal because they are owned by the WRU, but the other three are currently playing hardball. Were the three independent clubs to sign, they'll be better off in direct cash and debt terms, but it remains to be seen if the threat of action turns the dial on allaying their fears. If they do not sign by midnight on Thursday, the two-year notice period is set to be served and we enter a very different ball game where things could get messy very quickly While the WRU maintain they want to make four pro clubs work, there are those within the upper echelons of Welsh rugby who are adamant the best structure going forward should see three teams at most. Serving the notice period triggers a move towards a situation where the WRU would actually have the legal power to revoke the URC and European competition playing licence of any team it wished. What happens if the WRU call in the two-year notice on the current PRA? To terminate the current PRA the WRU need to give the clubs a notice period of two years. If the clubs don't sign there are a number of potential outcomes that could play out. In the short term, Welsh rugby could feasibly move to a 1+3 model, where WRU-owned Cardiff are funded to the extent they can compete strongly on the field, with the other three left on a £4.5m salary cap burdened with significant debt for the next two years. How long they would survive on those terms is questionable. Of course, there is also a possibility the three teams refuse to sign by Thursday, but come to agreement further down the line, after the two-year notice has been triggered. The prospect of no deal being signed by the deadline but talks continuing is very feasible. The most severe consequence of all this would result in Wales reducing to three professional clubs. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. WRU CEO Abi Tierney's aim is to retain four professional teams that are sustainable and funded to a level where they can compete. But if they do not sign the new PRA things could spiral out of the WRU's control. The clubs won't be competitive on a £4.5m budget for the next couple of years, while they will be burdened by debt. The survival of the remaining three then depends on what their funding directors are prepared to put in to cover the deficits and each of the three clubs have their unique set of challenges. Even if the clubs did manage to hang on for the full two years, there is then potential for seismic change and the loss of a team, or teams. The WRU holds the licences for the Welsh clubs competing in the URC and European competitions, and these could be withdrawn. It has been well documented that cutting a team would see the union penalised financially in the short-term for not fulfilling their four-team obligations to the competitions they are part of, although after two years they would arguably be better off. The WRU is adamant it wants to stick with four teams, but not signing the new PRA clearly could have huge ramifications for the professional game in Wales. There really is a lot at stake here. In giving notice, the WRU would need to set out very clearly how they see the way forward and some will argue there is a potential conflict of interest with their current ownership of Cardiff. Going down a path that exposes the other professional clubs to such a huge potential threat is sure to heighten tensions and lead to possible legal disputes, were a team to be cut in two years' time. Article continues below A saga that has now rumbled for countless years feels like it is reaching a decisive moment.
