One Idea to Fix Regional Rugby?

By Andrew Collins
April 24 2012

It’s been great to see some positive debate going on in the forum regarding the state of regional rugby in Wales, so I thought I’d write my own analysis of where we are and how we can fix it.

The regions are a huge success - they were set up to create a strong national side and no one can argue that Wales aren't better now.

Regional club rugby, however, is a disaster.

-> The Pro12 doesn't work; very costly for the teams to travel to away games every other week, no away fans, lack of rivalry, intensity and ultimately interest.

-> Lack of identity; Even the most ardent fan of the Cardiff Blues couldn't tell you who we are and where we represent without getting embroiled in a long winded explanation of whether we are a stand alone club/region/etc. That coupled with the inter-regional hatred between City and Valley make it unworkable.

-> Too much WRU control; too many Welsh international matches, players too infrequently available, 'Team Wales' seen as the ultimate rugby experience while regional games become training sessions.

-> TV control; silly kick off times and games spread across the weekend make it difficult for fans - and particularly families - to get into a routine of going every week.

-> Soulless and empty stadia; no crowds, no atmosphere, inconvenient and expensive. Very unpopular.

It's easy to spot the weaknesses in the game, but finding any one solution is very hard. Despite many ideas being proposed, most ultimately draw up blank as there too many issues outside of WRU control.

In an ideal world, I believe three regions, each with a strong identity and covering all areas of Wales would be competing in the English Premiership, much like they do in football. However, it’s not really possible.

Fixing the regions would take a lot of work, but at least in the short term, I believe there is a solution that would at least re-capture the lost audience of rugby traditionalists.

Start the season in the summer with a mini Welsh Premiership, featuring 10 of the traditional teams. Players not centrally contracted by WRU play for their clubs (eg. Czekaj plays for Cardiff RFC, Sweeney with Ponty)
Each team plays each other once, either home or away (swapping each season). That would be 9 games culminating in an inter-rivalry match (Cardiff vs Ponty, Swansea Vs Neath, etc.)
That rivalry match would signal the end of the Welsh season and begin the RaboDirect Pro12. The standout players from each regional club side get selected for regional duty, with the remaining unselected players then competing in a Regional ‘a’ league against the other Welsh sides – this is purely to keep them fit in case called upon, as well offering the opportunity for players to still earn a living. There would also be scope for players be loaned across regions – eg A Ponty prop could be loaned to The Scarlets in times of need.
The RaboDirect Pro 12 would then kick off with the Welsh Prem players and Centrally Contracted players joining to become regional colleagues. In Lions and World Cup years, the best of the Welsh Premiership players would begin the Pro 12 for their regional side, with WRU Centrally Contracted players joining their regional teammates at the nearest possible date.

While even this very basic change has its flaws – namely issues with centrally contracted players as well contracts for the Welsh Premiership players – it does at least bring our traditional club sides, and rivalries, back to life. It should also make the teams truly regional – I have never understood how Cardiff Blues represent Cardiff RFC and Ponty RFC when those two sides are playing their own matches on the same day!

Of course, it would also probably require a name/brand change for some of the regions. Simply dropping ‘Cardiff’ from the Blues would not represent enough of a clean start.

Really, this still would not address half the issues raised above, but it would be a step in the right direction. Club sides should not be competing with regional sides for customers! We need to work together to ensure there is a smooth transition from the much loved traditional club sides, to the regions and ultimately progressing to Wales.

This idea is also fully within the WRU’s control and budget, and could even benefit from the much desired summer rugby season.

Whether this is an answer or not, something has to be done to stop the masses of fans and players leaving in their droves. Fresh ideas are needed and fans need to be at the heart of those changes in order to re-attach people with their rugby clubs.