WRU

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chair Richard Collier-Keywood and director of rugby Dave Reddin have defended their positions amid criticism of the Union’s handling of regional restructuring.

The WRU’s preferred two-team model has been scrapped, following a six-week consultation process, having now opted to reduce the number of professional sides from four to three.

Collier-Keywood said: “I don’t accept it’s a mess at all. We went out with a proposal and we want to make change.”

Reddin added: “I don’t see the mess at all. It’s not going to be an easy process to get there but I’m hugely excited for the future.”

Watch more: Scarlets and Ospreys not competing for west Wales spot

Today’s announcement will do little to calm the often seething cauldron of Welsh rugby, particularly in west Wales.

The WRU said only one of the three future teams in Wales will be based in the west where both Ospreys (Swansea) and Scarlets (Llanelli) are based.

Scarlets and Ospreys are on a previous funding agreement until 2027 – worth just £4.5m a year – after refusing to sign the new participation agreement earlier this year.

There is still a hope within the governing body that the teams could merge but would open a tender process if they do not.

That process even opens the unlikely prospect that one of those clubs could apply for the licence based in Cardiff or east Wales.

The WRU, meanwhile, is a stakeholder in the URC – along with the four other national governing bodies – and would need support from the league to alter the number of regions competing.

Surveys have shown a majority of Welsh rugby fans would like the WRU to approach the English clubs to see if there could be an Anglo-Welsh league.

Reddin had stated that option was not on the table and the WRU remains committed to the URC.

So while the present now has greater clarity, the longer-term future of Welsh rugby will still remain uncertain.

“The collective view of the players is clear: the proposed two-club model does not have their support,” said WRPA chief executive Gareth Lewis.

Lewis says players believe it would:

Dragons last week urged the WRU to rethink its plans, with chairman David Wright declaring “Welsh rugby deserves better”.

The WRPA has followed that by encouraging the Union to come up with another plan.

“We feel it is important at this stage of the consultation that the strength of feeling among players is visible to all stakeholders and the wider rugby community,” said Lewis.

“With continued interest from the media and supporters, we want to ensure the players’ voice is clearly understood and contributes constructively to the ongoing discussions about the future of our game.

“Looking forward, players believe the future of Welsh rugby must be built on a model that protects playing opportunities, nurtures pathways, preserves identity, and strengthens the game for generations to come.

“We recognise the WRU’s position that all options remain under consideration until the consultation with every stakeholder has been completed.

“The WRPA will continue to engage openly and constructively, working alongside the WRU, clubs, and wider rugby community to help shape a sustainable and successful future for Welsh rugby.”

The most successful Welsh side since regional rugby was launched in 2003 with four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph.

Warren Gatland famously named 13 Ospreys in his first Wales team in 2008.

But that star-studded squad of ‘Galacticos’, with the likes of Shane Williams, Gavin Henson and Ryan Jones as well as All Blacks Justin Marshall, Marty Holah and Jerry Collins, should have achieved more.

The region has produced genuine superstars, such as Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar, Adam Jones and James Hook. This summer it provided one of only two British & Irish Lions players from Wales – Jac Morgan flying to Australia along with Gloucester’s Tomos Williams.

Ospreys also have population on their side in Wales’ second-biggest city and have opted to leave the often soulless Swansea.com Stadium and spend this 2025-26 season in Bridgend while they redevelop St Helen’s.

But Swansea council have safeguards if professional rugby in the city is impacted by the WRU decision.

The region, taken over by Y11 Sport & Media in 2020, came close to a merger with the Scarlets in 2019, while talk of a merger with Cardiff in 2023 was denied.

The WRU would be keen for those discussions to begin again.

The salary cap for playing staff in SRC, which gets under way on 12 September, has gone up to £160,000 after being £150,000 last season.

“At the moment we don’t know what ‘significant investment’ could be but one thing that we are committed to is working with the 10 clubs individually and collectively to get their feedback, thoughts and ideas as part of the consultation process,” said WRU head of player development John Alder.

“Whatever the future looks like, SRC has an integral role to play and we have to figure out how we can keep driving standards up.

“It will be an interesting six weeks and we will just have to wait to discover what comes from the conversations at all levels.

“We will ensure that the 10 SRC clubs are heard and they are part of the process because we are committed to continually improving the competition.”

The SRC clubs are due to meet on 9 September and will discuss their approach to the WRU proposals, which could see a change to their relationships with regional academies.

“No club will ever turn their nose up at significant investment but we need to see what that means, and indeed if it’s even there,” said Jon Jones, chairman of Ebbw Vale and representative for the SRC clubs.

“We need a clearer picture of what the plans are and to get some detail, but we have a really good relationship with the Union and I am sure we will have those discussions.”

The shake-up comes after the men’s side suffered its worst season with nine defeats in 10 games that drew a total losing sequence of 18 matches, a run that only ended last weekend with a 31-22 victory in the second Test against Japan.

“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,” the WRU said.

“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.”