WRU statement vs RRW statement - just posted

First topic message reminder :

The Welsh Rugby Union is confident that professional teams from Wales will continue to take part in sanctioned league and cup competitions in the best interests of all of Welsh rugby.

The WRU also remains confident that a European rugby cup competition under the management of the ERC will take place next season. Welsh teams will also continue to play in the Pro12 league organised by Celtic Rugby Ltd.

Furthermore the WRU reaffirms its commitment to the International Rugby Board's regulations which provide that cross-border competitions and tournaments may only take place with the full approval of the relevant unions.

The WRU has received notice that the four Welsh Regional Organisations do not wish to continue with the existing Participation Agreement, as agreed by all parties in 2009, beyond 30 June 2014. As such the current contractual relationship between the WRU and the four Regional Organisations will end on that date.

It was always the hope of the WRU that the four Regional Organisations would have continued with the Participation Agreement and therefore maintain their contractual right to remain the WRU's nominated teams in sanctioned competitions.

The Participation Agreement provided a ten year rugby framework for the professional game in Wales and is an integral part of the rugby pyramid structure in Wales.

The decision of the existing Regional Organisations not to continue with the PA has now freed the WRU to present a new Participation Agreement focused on recognising and rewarding Regions which identify, develop and retain players capable of challenging for international honours with Wales. This is in the best interests of Welsh Rugby.

The governance of rugby in Wales, through the elected Board of the WRU, will continue to remain in the hands of the 320 clubs of the Welsh Rugby Union.

As the governing body of rugby in Wales the WRU will continue to act in the best interests of all of Welsh rugby at all times from the grassroots through to the international game

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/29209.php#.UsMQhn8gGSM

Allty wrote:Sadly or maybe not

There can only be one top dog its got to be the WRU the Regions have had the opportunity to do well over many years and have failed.

But negotiations in private are the only way forward for the regions.

I'm inclined to agree with you. However I do think the WRU needs to up its game. Too many fans around Wales feel alienated. We need a thorough broom around the entire game and we need dialogue with all parties in Wales to achieve the kind of structure that will see the game thrive.

I honestly feel the best solution now would be for Rog the dodge to resign, RRW to give over control of the regions, the WRU to put 2+1 regions into the Pro12 & HEC/Amlin and argue the case for a Pro 20 (2 divisions) and a revised structure in europe which goes along the lines of League then European cup then 6N. We should have a 12 team semi pro premier league (5+5+2) and a championship linked to the regions and 3 regional conference structures beneath that. Our top players should be centrally contracted (25 per region - back ups should come from prem sides), affiliated to the premiership clubs and selected for the regions based on form. I want to see the WRU secure limited TV rights for the premiership so that the majority of matches are played on a saturday at 2.30pm with only one or two games tops being televised each weekend. I want to see a wru membership requirement that all clubs beneath championship level operate on a purely amateur basis (paying players should result in a clubs expulsion).

This would end up in a season that went like this:

18 league games +3 AI's halfway through
8 European group games + 3 possible knockout games
5 6N games

Damn it I want a lot  

Totallybiasedscarlet wrote:

Allty wrote:Sadly or maybe not

There can only be one top dog its got to be the WRU the Regions have had the opportunity to do well over many years and have failed.

But negotiations in private are the only way forward for the regions.

I'm inclined to agree with you. However I do think the WRU needs to up its game. Too many fans around Wales feel alienated. We need a thorough broom around the entire game and we need dialogue with all parties in Wales to achieve the kind of structure that will see the game thrive.

I honestly feel the best solution now would be for Rog the dodge to resign, RRW to give over control of the regions, the WRU to put 2+1 regions into the Pro12 & HEC/Amlin and argue the case for a Pro 20 (2 divisions) and a revised structure in europe which goes along the lines of League then European cup then 6N. We should have a 12 team semi pro premier league (5+5+2) and a championship linked to the regions and 3 regional conference structures beneath that. Our top players should be centrally contracted (25 per region - back ups should come from prem sides), affiliated to the premiership clubs and selected for the regions based on form. I want to see the WRU secure limited TV rights for the premiership so that the majority of matches are played on a saturday at 2.30pm with only one or two games tops being televised each weekend. I want to see a wru membership requirement that all clubs beneath championship level operate on a purely amateur basis (paying players should result in a clubs expulsion).

This would end up in a season that went like this:

18 league games +3 AI's halfway through
8 European group games + 3 possible knockout games
5 6N games

Damn it I want a lot  

Ahhaarghh.....

Allty wrote:Sadly or maybe not

There can only be one top dog its got to be the WRU the Regions have had the opportunity to do well over many years and have failed.

But negotiations in private are the only way forward for the regions.

Has there been much negotiation though in the past few years?
I smell a big stinky rat.