David Moffett unveils his One Wales manifesto as he bids to be elected onto WRU board

[munkian]

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David Moffett unveils his One Wales manifesto as he bids to be elected onto WRU board

ormer chief executive David Moffett is unveiling his One Wales manifesto today on the road to election onto the WRU board of directors.

Moffett will reveal his grand plan to take over the role of chairman at the Castle Hotel, Neath, from 11am today.

The controversial Australian said: "I disagree with the WRU's stance on just about everything, from the way that the community game works to its relationship with the professional game," he said.

"There is a better way of doing things and if the clubs endorse my manifesto I will do all I can to represent them as independent chairman."

Our team will be in Neath with all the news from 11am. Follow it right here.



Could be interesting, the WRU needs to be more accountable and not just focus on packing the Millennium Stadium to pay off Barclays

[Cardiff Dave]

He's quite open about the fact he wanted proper regions but Cardiff/Llanelli didn't agree and threatened court action, WRU were close to being broke back then so couldn't stand against them.

He's up his own harris but i've seen more from him being vocal (and visiting many clubs along the way) than i have of Pickering in his entire tenure.

If truth be told i forgot Dai Pickering was still at the WRU!

Anyone else threaten? I can name 2.
DM certainly did want proper regions and noticably on twitter he often refers to what we have now as pro teams rather than regions.

The Scarlets were told to merge with Swansea, who were effectively bankrupt, so doing so would have forced Llanelli RFC to go the same way. In the end Swansea joined with Neath and both went bankrupt. Great for the new Ospreys franchise as unlike all of the other Regions, they started out with no depts. carried forward from their former club sides. Not great for all of the businesses, small and large who ended up losing their money when these clubs went bankrupt.

For me some new blood in the WRU is badly needed, the Dodger and Pickering have used their positions to bully the professional rugby regions into a position where they cannot function and frankly whilst Moffat is not ideal, anyone apart from Dodger or Pickering would do for me.

Yep and not just including the gruesome twosome either.
Read today on twitter that an increased WRU offer of £9.3m (from £6.4m) to the 4 has been rejected due to attached strings. Not sure if it's true though.

[munkian]

Its strange that Moffett is now referring to the Regions as clubs

[Cardiff Dave]

Its strange that Moffett is now referring to the Regions as clubs

You could argue he's upsetting the applecart, if of course it wasn't upset already. Think we might be in for an eventful summer.

[munkian]

Its strange that Moffett is now referring to the Regions as clubs

You could argue he's upsetting the applecart, if of course it wasn't upset already. Think we might be in for an eventful summer.

But he set the regions up !

[geoff998rugby]

Its strange that Moffett is now referring to the Regions as clubs

You could argue he's upsetting the applecart, if of course it wasn't upset already. Think we might be in for an eventful summer.

But he set the regions up !

He did and he made a pigs ear of it - cant believe he would be let anywhere near a revamped Welsh rugby setup

[Cardiff Dave]

Its strange that Moffett is now referring to the Regions as clubs

You could argue he's upsetting the applecart, if of course it wasn't upset already. Think we might be in for an eventful summer.

But he set the regions up !

Well I spose he sort of did and he sort of didn't. The clubs rejected his initial regional proposal remember and the rest is history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_of_regional_rugby_union_teams_in_Wales

[Cardiff Dave]

Its strange that Moffett is now referring to the Regions as clubs

You could argue he's upsetting the applecart, if of course it wasn't upset already. Think we might be in for an eventful summer.

But he set the regions up !

He did and he made a pigs ear of it - cant believe he would be let anywhere near a revamped Welsh rugby setup

It'll be the clubs who decide whether they want Moffett involved or not. Again, their choice as it was in 2003.

[Irish Londoner]

The problem is that the WRU/Regions set up is neither fish nor fowl, the regions are not component parts of the WRU like in Ireland but nor are they standalone businesses like in England.
If the regions want autonomy they need to to get off the WRU teat, stop taking money from the WRU and stand or fall according to the "market".
(Yes I know that Jeff clubs get RFU funding but the situation and circumstances are different at present).
Alternatively if the WRU want control over the regions then they need to front up and pay the regional club owners some compensation and run them following the Irish model.
Also if he's courting the clubs, aren't they the people who don't support/want the regions anyway? playing both ends against the middle.
Not totally au fait with Welsh Rugby politics but as a Leeds fan in the round game he sounds like a Kiwi Peter Ridsdale to me....tells each group what they want to hear.

[munkian]

He's getting the clubs on his side to vote for an EGM and elect him as EL Presidente. Once in power he'll probably ignore them   

[Cardiff Dave]

The problem is that the WRU/Regions set up is neither fish nor fowl, the regions are not component parts of the WRU like in Ireland but nor are they standalone businesses like in England.
If the regions want autonomy they need to to get off the WRU teat, stop taking money from the WRU and stand or fall according to the "market".
(Yes I know that Jeff clubs get RFU funding but the situation and circumstances are different at present).
Alternatively if the WRU want control over the regions then they need to front up and pay the regional club owners some compensation and run them following the Irish model.
Also if he's courting the clubs, aren't they the people who don't support/want the regions anyway? playing both ends against the middle.
Not totally au fait with Welsh Rugby politics but as a Leeds fan in the round game he sounds like a Kiwi Peter Ridsdale to me....tells each group what they want to hear.

Cheers   .
That name should bring back memories for Cardiff bloos fans. Not good ones either.

[Irish Londoner]

Feel free to use that on the Welsh messageboards  

[Scrumpy]

I like Moffet as he talks a lot of sense.

[geoff998rugby]

The last thing Wales need is to replace one tube (Lewis) with another (Moffat)

The principality is crying out for someone who knows his backside from his elbow - sadly I am not aware of any.
Hopefully Welsh supporters have some viable candidates they can think of

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

I like Moffet as he talks a lot of sense.

Yep, makes sense, you'd make fine bed-fellows

[doctornickolas]

I like Moffet as he talks a lot of sense.

Really?

He knows little about accounts and finance judging by some of his comments about the WRU financial statements.

[Scrumpy]

Yes Really!

Could he do any worse than the current lot?


"The fact that most of the rugby world is shaking its head at the shenanigans of both the WRU and the regions should be a matter of national shame."
Mr Moffat

[geoff998rugby]

Actually he has been in charge before and made a hash of it !

So what if he is arguably, better

Replacing a 1 out of 10 with a 2 out of 10 is hardly what Welsh rugby need

[Chunky Norwich]

Good luck Moffett. We desperately need him to get in.

Would make a huge difference to every section of Welsh rugby below the National team.

[Scrumpy]

You could also argue the system he brought in was responsible for the Nationals teams recent success!

So he isn't all bad, best man for the job imo.   

[Chunky Norwich]

He isn't going for Roger Lewis' job by the way. He's going for David Pickering's job. I doubt he'll get it. But a change is needed. The current man at the top is destroying Welsh rugby.

I'd prefer anyone but him. Even AsLongAsBut100ofUs.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Moffett - supported by Chunky and Scumpy - no further endorsement required

[Scrumpy]

AsLongAsBut100ofUs

Please explain why he isn't the right man for the job?

[Scrumpy]

 

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

AsLongAsBut100ofUs

Please explain why he isn't the right man for the job?

No. Go figure it our for yersel, and stop ligging off me

[Scrumpy]

Please try and have a thought or an opinion on this topic that isn't an insult towards me or Chunky.   

[Chunky Norwich]

Please try and have a thought or an opinion on this topic that isn't an insult towards me or Chunky.   

It's what they do.

Ignorance is bliss I suppose.

[Scrumpy]

This place reminds me of Toolstation sometimes!

[munkian]

I liked the bit where Scrumpy didn't post a thing about losing to Sale at the Rec...

[Scrumpy]

Here we go!

What has that got to do with this?

[Cardiff Dave]

Feel free to use that on the Welsh messageboards  

Thanks, but one pantomime is enough for me.

[munkian]

Here we go!

What has that got to do with this?

Just interesting

[Scrumpy]

But off topic!

hence why I commented on Sales deserved win elsewhere!

[Cardiff Dave]

I like Moffet as he talks a lot of sense.

Really?

He knows little about accounts and finance judging by some of his comments about the WRU financial statements.

"Scurrilous" being the operative word I believe.

[geoff998rugby]

He botch the set up of the regions and a lot of the problems stem from that.

Also very much a loose cannon - the last thing Welsh rugby needs

[Cardiff Dave]

Moffett - supported by Chunky and Scumpy - no further endorsement required

Not joining the Moffetteers then AsLongAs?
I was sceptical at first, but now i'm of the opinion it's defo the way forward.

[munkian]

Couldn't we just nick some of his manifesto ideas ? Kick out the bank manager's best mate, get in someone who cares about rugby not played at Test level ?

[Cardiff Dave]

He botch the set up of the regions and a lot of the problems stem from that.

Also very much a loose cannon - the last thing Welsh rugby needs

Put the WRU firmly on its feet though and I would say the regional botch was more of a combined effort.

[munkian]

He botch the set up of the regions and a lot of the problems stem from that.

Also very much a loose cannon - the last thing Welsh rugby needs

Put the WRU firmly on its feet though and I would say the regional botch was more of a combined effort.

The parochial clubs didn't help either.

[geoff998rugby]

He botch the set up of the regions and a lot of the problems stem from that.

Also very much a loose cannon - the last thing Welsh rugby needs

Put the WRU firmly on its feet though and I would say the regional botch was more of a combined effort.

The parochial clubs didn't help either.

Would agree with both those comment.

It was not solely Moffat by a long chalk but he was central to the mess that was created.

[Sin é]

I think Ireland were very lucky at the time to have two very strong leaders in the IRFU who stood up to the clubs and made them go the provincial way (Tom Kiernan & Syd Miller).

[munkian]

I think Ireland were very lucky at the time to have two very strong leaders in the IRFU who stood up to the clubs and made them go the provincial way (Tom Kiernan & Syd Miller).

It also helped that your 'regions' were real provinces with history and pride.

[geoff998rugby]

True, but hard though it might be to believe now, there were very loud and powerful voices demanding we should go the club not the provincial route.

It was far from a sure run thing

[munkian]

True, but hard though it might be to believe now, there were very loud and powerful voices demanding we should go the club not the provincial route.

It was far from a sure run thing

I'm sure dude, but once it was in play you probably didn't have fans of certain clubs with no province to support in the same way we have.

[geoff998rugby]

But regions cover all the country   

Are you telling me Scarlets don't represent Colwyn Bay and Aberystwyth   

or that Cardiff is only a 1 city team   

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you...in best Captain Renault voice  

[Sin é]

I think Ireland were very lucky at the time to have two very strong leaders in the IRFU who stood up to the clubs and made them go the provincial way (Tom Kiernan & Syd Miller).

It also helped that your 'regions' were real provinces with history and pride.

Not a huge amount of history to be honest. For instance, the inter-county rivalry from GAA would have been ingrained. For example, Meath would hate Dublin and there is massive rivarly between all the counties in Munster (Kerry v Cork etc). Declan Kidney is credited with getting the Cork & Limerick players to play together (huge rivalry between the two sets of rugby clubs there) - so big Munster has a training centre for the Cork players and a training centre for the Limerick players (only now to be discontinued after next season when all are moving to one in Limerick) and two stadia - Thomond & Musgrave/Irish Independent Park.

Its incorrect to say that it was easy.

[Cardiff Dave]

David Moffett a few minutes ago on twitter;

"I was responsible for setting up Regions and 4 pro Teams (the media called them Regions0 they are not".

[munkian]

I think Ireland were very lucky at the time to have two very strong leaders in the IRFU who stood up to the clubs and made them go the provincial way (Tom Kiernan & Syd Miller).

It also helped that your 'regions' were real provinces with history and pride.

Not a huge amount of history to be honest. For instance, the inter-county rivalry from GAA would have been ingrained. For example, Meath would hate Dublin and there is massive rivarly between all the counties in Munster (Kerry v Cork etc).  Declan Kidney is credited with getting the Cork & Limerick players to play together (huge rivalry between the two sets of rugby clubs there) - so big Munster has a training centre for the Cork players and a training centre for the Limerick players (only now to be discontinued after next season when all are moving to one in Limerick) and two stadia - Thomond & Musgrave/Irish Independent Park.

Its incorrect to say that it was easy.

Comparatively easy then   

[Seagultaf]

Without Moffat we would not have any professional rugby in Wales and as a consequence Wales would not have won 3 6N Grand Slams!

His solution is far from ideal but up until the rescession hit Wales so hard it was providing 2/3 competitive regions and it spawned a golden generation of players.

The alternative would be no rugby above Premiership level and all the top players playing outside Wales. Also if George North (for example) had been picked up by Northampton as a 16 year old, would he still have opted to play for Wales or would his loyalty to his employer have swayed his judgement?

Moffat is not ideal but he is a strong charecter and proven rugby admisistrator, and lets be honest anyone would be better than Roger the Doger and his lap dog Pickering.

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