Reform Regional Rugby - New Update

First topic message reminder :

Thanks to the all of you who have signed the petition since we last sent out an update.


A lot has happened in the last few weeks and momentum is definitely with the campaign. Here are the highlights of recent developments:


* The WRU has effectively pre-empted the review it commissioned by PriceWaterhouseCoopers into the ‘sustainability’ of the regional set-up by stating that a new model – with some regions ’downgraded’ to development status – is under consideration. This presents both a threat and an opportunity: an opportunity for us to put forward alternative suggestions, but a threat that the WRU take the simple option of cutting costs by reducing revenues for one or more region.


* The Blues, with impeccable timing, have announced that they would like to play some of their games at The Arms Park, Sardis Road, or ‘somewhere else outside Cardiff’.


* The Clubs have started to demand change themselves. The Mid District Union of the WRU has written to Roger Lewis asking for a meeting to discuss the possibility of establishing a professional, regional rugby side within the areas of the Mid District.


* Politicians representing a wider area of the Valleys have also come on board with the campaign – nine MPs have written an open letter to the WRU requesting a meeting to discuss the economic, social and sporting impact of the regional structure.


* Alternative options for reform and supporting business plans are under construction and will be presented to the WRU on March 31st. These plans will also be presented for public consultation.


* Media coverage continues to grow, including last night’s rather feeble ‘Week In, Week Out’ programme: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01bs438/Week_In_Week_Out_07_02_2012/


* Wales home article here: http://waleshome.org/2012/02/regional-rugby-time-for-change/


Keep the Faith

I was just marking this with the above emoticon.

I aired my thoughts on this weeks ago, nothing has changed. Jimmy, be clear and again tell us what you think would be an ideal structure for Welsh rugby? Does it involve a 'region' playing at Sardis Road? If so, how would you feel about your current Region the Blues picking more players from Pontypridd and playing some games at Sardis Road?

I have read that article btw:

"As Valleys MP and a rugby fanatic, I started the petition in order to reflect the extent of the hurt in communities that feel ‘disenfranchised’ by Welsh rugby’s ruling interests. Residents of traditional rugby communities – Pontypool, Ebbw Vale, Pontypridd and the Rhondda, Newbridge, Abertillery, Maesteg and, in different ways, Neath and Bridgend – feel increasingly alienated from, and indifferent to, the regional constructs – The Blues, Ospreys and Dragons – which were supposed to represent them."

How can he even include the Ospreys and Dragons there? Speaking from a Dragons fan perspective who has friends in neighbouring valleys; Pontypool, Newbridge and Aber don't feel at all alienated, especially the latter two. Our representation of the Gwent valleys is fair. Cross Keys are doing well because of the Dragons. Pontypool had suffered with the available resources being stretched but it seems to be getting better and they have Dragons players in their team. Newbridge, Abertillery, etc were no longer viable at the start of professionalism, not Regionalisation. Basing a top flight proffessional outfit at any of these would be madness.

Steffan wrote:Agree with everything Casartelli has said

Personally I would also:

Get in 3 REAL regions. East. Central and West (North will be a possibility in the future)

Have 15 Welshman running out for each of these regions every week

Centralised contracts

Get the premiership down to 10 teams. Possibly even move it to the summer to get people in

3 teams from each region plus a North Wales team

So now we have real regions, Welsh players, and then if players want to leave for bigger wages elsewhere so what as we would have youngsters coming through from what would be a STRONG and enjoyable to watch premiership

Is that really so hard?

In Wales it seems so

Your suggestion of 4 brand new entities plus central contracts would cost a fortune and there is no guarantee that people would support them either. There's also the small fact of compensation which would have to be paid to the existing set ups before you even get off the ground.

so where would the three 'REAL' regions play steffan?

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Steffan wrote:Agree with everything Casartelli has said

Personally I would also:

Get in 3 REAL regions. East. Central and West (North will be a possibility in the future)

Have 15 Welshman running out for each of these regions every week

Centralised contracts

Get the premiership down to 10 teams. Possibly even move it to the summer to get people in

3 teams from each region plus a North Wales team

So now we have real regions, Welsh players, and then if players want to leave for bigger wages elsewhere so what as we would have youngsters coming through from what would be a STRONG and enjoyable to watch premiership

Is that really so hard?

In Wales it seems so

Your suggestion of 4 brand new entities plus central contracts would cost a fortune and there is no guarantee that people would support them either. There's also the small fact of compensation which would have to be paid to the existing set ups before you even get off the ground.

Also you wouldn't be able to bring youngsters through from a strong premiership if the premiership are playing in the summer and being rested throughout the winter (so aren't match sharp or up to standard).

I also question where your going to get the money from for these 3(4) regions and how your going to replace the money invested by the benefactors (I also imagine they would need paying off for all the resources they'd invested in now defunct regions). All this money on top of centralised contracts.

If you have no NWQ players in the regions, do you not feel there may be a drop in standard from players such as Rush, Blair, Lualua, Bowe, Lyons or King and the youngsters who are going to have to be accelerated into the 1st team instead of them (unless you use other Welsh players like Gomer or Robinson).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17249294

Well there goes any support for the Ospreys next year

why?

Well maybe not all support. But they will lose a hell of a lot more with the success of Swansea City. I can see the average attendance being around the 5,000 mark next season.

gowales wrote:Well maybe not all support. But they will lose a hell of a lot more with the success of Swansea City. I can see the average attendance being around the 5,000 mark next season.

The 'glory supporters' who would jump ship to the football side would have done it this season, in order to try and see the best teams just incase they hadn't stayed up. The fact they have stayed up shouldn't effect the Ospreys at all.

exactly right SS

There is talk about increasing capacity by 10 k at the Liberty, if this happens more supporters will be buying Swans season tickets, there is already a large waiting list for season tickets for next year! I saw the Man C game this week in the packed stadium, great atmosphere. Worrying for the Ospreys, there were lots of young supporters there, probably rugby will mis out on these supporters now and in the future due to cost.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

gowales wrote:Well maybe not all support. But they will lose a hell of a lot more with the success of Swansea City. I can see the average attendance being around the 5,000 mark next season.

The 'glory supporters' who would jump ship to the football side would have done it this season, in order to try and see the best teams just incase they hadn't stayed up. The fact they have stayed up shouldn't effect the Ospreys at all.

Well that depends. A lot of people have said that some European success with the Ospreys will draw the crowds and pull in additional supportors. Surely if the Swans stay in the premiership, maybe even becoming a relatively stable mid-table team, then they'll draw the supportors instead. It may not have a massive effect but it may make it harder to draw in new fans (unless there's a deal that the soccer season tickets get you Ospreys games/discount)

gowales wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17249294

Well there goes any support for the Ospreys next year

Not really the entire Liberty stadium is already sold out with season ticket holders, Swansea have 18,532 season ticket holders, and must reserve the last 2,000 tickets for away fans. Swansea can't really take anymore fans off the Ospreys because there is no room in the stadium for them!

It's pretty well known a large percentage of duel Ospreys / Swansea City FC fans said on the Ospreys forum that they were only going to support Swansea this year as this might be their only chance to see Premier League football, though each week it looks as though they will have another season next year, and many of those Swansea fans will now be out of the rugby habit.

gowales wrote:Well maybe not all support. But they will lose a hell of a lot more with the success of Swansea City. I can see the average attendance being around the 5,000 mark next season.

Attendances will be around 3,000 next season, apparently the entire walk up fans count for the aironi game was 40 going off someone said on the Ospreys website. Attendances at the moment are about 2,500-3,000 fans. They automatically count the season ticket holders as attending but half of them are just not attending games.

What is the point in counting season ticket holders who don't actually turn up?

You might as well count people watching on the telly too.

Llanelli supporters claim their attendances now push 10k - but it never looks like there's more than 4000 there. Did they sell 6000 season tickets to Carmarthenshire Council to raise some cash?

Casartelli wrote:What is the point in counting season ticket holders who don't actually turn up?

You might as well count people watching on the telly too.

Llanelli supporters claim their attendances now push 10k - but it never looks like there's more than 4000 there. Did they sell 6000 season tickets to Carmarthenshire Council to raise some cash?

You mentioned the word "Llanelli" mate so you're in trouble.
Did you watch the Northampton LV game? Franklin's Gardens had the word "Llanelli" on their scoreboard.
I though it was great. I'm from Cardiff and I think the word Llanelli is a great name.
It is absolutely unique and it should be marketed to the hilt.

AlynDavies wrote:

Attendances will be around 3,000 next season, apparently the entire walk up fans count for the aironi game was 40 going off someone said on the Ospreys website. Attendances at the moment are about 2,500-3,000 fans. They automatically count the season ticket holders as attending but half of them are just not attending games.

If that's the case you better get down the Brewery Fields where the supporters will actually make some noise.

Casartelli wrote:What is the point in counting season ticket holders who don't actually turn up?

Cardiff Blues do it all the time. They even include the free tickets issued whether they are used or not.
At the last LV game at Cardiff City's stadium, they supposedly sold 41 tickets on the day and claimed a 2093 attendance.
It's all to do with making out that things are tickety boo. Blatent lying is what I would call it it.

Morgannwg wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:

Attendances will be around 3,000 next season, apparently the entire walk up fans count for the aironi game was 40 going off someone said on the Ospreys website. Attendances at the moment are about 2,500-3,000 fans. They automatically count the season ticket holders as attending but half of them are just not attending games.

If that's the case you better get down the Brewery Fields where the supporters will actually make some noise.

I agree. Proper rugby ground too.

Morgannwg wrote:If that's the case you better get down the Brewery Fields where the supporters will actually make some noise.

God no, that place is a shít hole, it's ok for Bridgend Ravens, but no good for the Ospreys.

AlynDavies wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:If that's the case you better get down the Brewery Fields where the supporters will actually make some noise.

God no, that place is a shít hole, it's ok for Bridgend Ravens, but no good for the Ospreys.

Poopie holes are ok by me.

Poopie holes breed tougher teams. Ask the All Blacks who grew up playing in bare feet in the frost.