Reasons to be positive
Reasons to be positive
By Steve Matthews
May 4 2015
Rugby in Wales is on the up, and despite the poor season we have had, I believe the Cardiff Blues can also be positive...
Rugby in Wales is on the up, and despite the poor season we have had, I believe the Cardiff Blues can also be positive. There are a number of reasons for that bold statement and they are all playing out right before our eyes. Some of them are more obvious than others.
We have just had a very successful double header at the Millennium Stadium, marketed as Judgement Day III. It was pitched, and priced dare I say it, far better by Pro Rugby Wales, (PRW), the body charged with representing our professional game, with little or no interference from outside influences and was attended by nearly 53,000 people.
We have recently seen the announcement of the resignation of Roger Lewis as Group Chief executive of the WRU, the ousting of Chairman Dai Pickering and the appointment of Gareth Davies as Chairman as his replacement.
Its encouraging to see that Mr Davies has set his stall out to look at the community game in Wales. Rather than simply talk about the investments the Union have made recently – much like our politicians, they seem to have believed in the past the resolution to a problem is as simple as quoting the amount of money they’ve “invested” in it, and suddenly all is well in the world – he has made it one of his priorities. Words come cheap, but I’m far more confident that this man means business.
Its no surprise, I don’t think, that there is a greater spirit of co-operation between PRW and the Union because of these developments in the governing body. There’s still a lot of work to be done to repair the breach of trust between the two organisations, but positive steps are being taken.
My biggest cause for positivity though, is the seeming shift in emphasis in the position of PRW, formerly known as Regional Rugby Wales. I’m not sure if I’m preaching to the converted here, but the significance of the rebrand that took place in October last year, passed me by, and its only my more active participation on Twitter recently, that has opened my eyes to the reality of the situation Welsh Rugby finds itself in.
In one such exchange last week, where discussions were raging about the nature of our “Regions” @prorugbywales tweeted this:
“Pro Rugby Wales represents the four ‘pro’ rugby teams transition now from “Regions”
Immediately, having been slightly taken aback, I searched the net for the statement marking the rebrand released on 28th October 2014. One paragraph in particular caught my eye again:
“Practically, though contractually we are defined as Regions, to our supporters and sponsors we are their clubs, to our coaches and players the jersey they commit to every week. In fact, what we actually represent is the professional game in Wales – the four Welsh professional squads who play in the Pro12 league.”
What does all this mean? Well for me it’s an incredibly exciting development – it’s not new for many people, but my stage of thought and understanding relating to issues rugby in Wales is probably way behind the 8 ball.
“Regional” Rugby was introduced in 2003, eight years after the game turned professional. Twelve years later, looking at the statement above in it’s entirety, it appears the “professional” side of things is finally being grasped. PRW are named accordingly!
With the new Rugby Services Agreement signed in August last year, the change of personnel in the WRU, the beginnings of a desire for both sides of what has been a divide in rugby in Wales, to operate as a partnership, rather than at loggerheads, has contributed to a significant leap forward.
Yes there are still issues to be addressed. Fans are still alienated it appears, with many believing they have nothing to support in the four pro teams, our semi-pro clubs continue to struggle and some seem to believe they are snubbed by The Big Four.
Some things will never change for sure, and I question whether its worth banging heads against a brick wall for years with no discernible results, but if the spark of interest that appeared last weekend can be encouraged, if the four teams can continue to work together, and foster a greater partnership with the Union – its rumoured that in the next eighteen months a new RSA will be signed that reflects this improvement – there’s potential for Welsh rugby to keep going from strength to strength.
As for the Blues, Chief Exec. Richard Holland seems to be a man with a clear vision for the future. Misquoting a line from Field of Dreams “Build it, and they will come” were words I’ve used recently. Cardiff Blues are attempting to rebuild after a dark period. We as fans need to offer any support possible – be it financial, vocal, even emotional support.
There is a feeling that Welsh Rugby is being let off the leash somewhat. If we can nurture spark that flickered last weekend in the Millennium Stadium, there is a bright future ahead.
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Centres. Our best teams in the past have been built on world-class centres...roberts, shanklin, laulala, Corey allen has the potential but not playing alongside budget players like G.Evans. Hopefully Lee Lo will prove useful but I like to see another overseas centre in the mix...
I do think coaching should be sorted BEFORE recruitment for next season, otherwise the Hammett scenario will reoccur.
I doubt anymore signings will be made until a new coach is found
Quote:Yup
So we decide to offer Roberts a fortune so he can play for Wales for the majority of the season, and when that fails just give up?!!
Let's hope not, getting impression it's more that people don't want to join us! I Was left very deflated after a chat this moving!
Quote:Ben Blair's Right Peg
Tom James, Blaine Scully, Lee lo deemed as poor?
I doubt anymore signings will be made until a new coach is found
I think Lee Lo will be good for us, but like James is not playing/starting a great deal so cant gage what impact he will have.
Have allready heard Scully referenced too as an American Richard Mustoe
Quote:CardiffloseQuote:Yup
So we decide to offer Roberts a fortune so he can play for Wales for the majority of the season, and when that fails just give up?!!
Let's hope not, getting impression it's more that people don't want to join us! I Was left very deflated after a chat this moving!
I sense that to be the case also. The lack of ambition at e club has been evident for some years. Unless there are some club statements to the contrary we have to assume the worst and the silence has been deafening.
Well, that and a coach.
And to be fair, you can forgive players for not being sure about joining a club without a coach.
Quote:Ben Blair's Right Peg
We need a leader on the pitch, who can play week in, week out
Has to be Josh Nav for me
Quote:CardiffloseQuote:Ben Blair's Right Peg
We need a leader on the pitch, who can play week in, week out
Has to be Josh Nav for me
Is the 2nd row signing still on?
I'd be looking more at someone like Macauley Cook. I think Warburton will get the captaincy officially next year, but the likes of Cook and Ellis Jenkins may well be vice captains.
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Quote:cardiff_steveQuote:CardiffloseQuote:Ben Blair's Right Peg
We need a leader on the pitch, who can play week in, week out
Has to be Josh Nav for me
Is the 2nd row signing still on?
"Meh" was the response I got when I asked so no idea sorry
Quote:CardiffloseQuote:cardiff_steveQuote:CardiffloseQuote:Ben Blair's Right Peg
We need a leader on the pitch, who can play week in, week out
Has to be Josh Nav for me
Is the 2nd row signing still on?
"Meh" was the response I got when I asked so no idea sorry
The good news is that in the past 18 months whenever youve been optimistic about new signings, its been followed by everything turning into @#$%&.
Going by that, we can probably expect to win a league and cup double next year.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:05:05:23:39:53 by cardiff_steve.
Quote:cardiff_steveQuote:CardiffloseQuote:cardiff_steveQuote:CardiffloseQuote:Ben Blair's Right Peg
We need a leader on the pitch, who can play week in, week out
Has to be Josh Nav for me
Is the 2nd row signing still on?
"Meh" was the response I got when I asked so no idea sorry
The good news is that in the past 18 months whenever youve been optimistic about new signings, its been followed by everything turning into @#$%&.
Going by that, we can probably expect to win a league and cup double next year.
Thats the plan
Think its gone cold on Snyman because i think he has got a nasty injury which requires and Op, Cam Dolan......who knowns!
1. People who watch rugby in the MS will not support their regions.
2. It's pro rugby. Start buying in some players and forget about this romantic notion of developing a squad of youngsters into world beaters.
3. Since DY left they've turned our club into a laughing stock.
Go ahead with your stupid buying of poor players and watch NOTHING change...
Quote:Cardifflose
Are you suggesting Hassler and Ardron have been developed by the Ospreys? That is very odd if you are!
The good news is that we're signing two cracking local products in Blaine Scully and Cam Dolan next season.
I'm sure Ash will get back to us on this. Once he's finished going through Jack Phillips's bins.
Quote:ashflash2k9
bloogoo, what you're proposing is the EXACT problem with the Blues. Every other region sees it aside from you. You bring in poor journeymen like Hoeata, who's no better than any locks you've already got, then let your talented kids shoot off into Ponty and never come back. The Ospreys are good because they're developing players. Not just Welsh players either, they took the two Canadians who had potential, and made them into two of their best players.
Go ahead with your stupid buying of poor players and watch NOTHING change...
Meanwhile over in Toulon...
Quote:Cardifflose
Are you suggesting Hassler and Ardron have been developed by the Ospreys? That is very odd if you are!
Did you see Hassler at the start of his Ospreys career? In a warm up game he played for Neath, he forgot to put the ball down over the try line, thinking it was American football. Both him and Ardron were pretty naff to start off with. You think either would be close to what they are now if they'd stayed playing for the BC bears, or the Prairie dogs??
Next you'll be claiming that they've not developed Arhip. Which would be rubbish, considering he came to Ospreys as a hooker.
Arhip was a prop when he signed, had played club rugby in Russia as a prop, had played for Moldova as a prop, you signed him because he was capable of coving all front row positions, you didn't make him a prop you just never played him at hooker!
Quote:ashflash2k9
Did you see Hassler at the start of his Ospreys career? In a warm up game he played for Neath, he forgot to put the ball down over the try line, thinking it was American football.
The guy was a Canadian international when he arrived. You cannot honestly believe that he didnt know you have to ground the ball?
Anyway, shouldnt you be composing another sonnet to Jack Phillips?