Welsh rugby partnership strengthens as Premiership Clubs join Pro Rugby Wales

PRW wrote:Pro Rugby Wales, the four Regions and the Clubs of the Welsh Premiership have confirmed that the Premiership clubs will join the board of Pro Rugby Wales from the New Year.

The Welsh Premiership is made up of 12 clubs across the Principality; Aberavon, Bedwas, Bridgend, Cardiff Rugby, Carmarthen Quins, Crosskeys, Ebbw Vale, Llandovery, Llanelli, Neath, Newport and Pontypridd.

The Premiership Clubs representative to the Board of Pro Rugby Wales will be Chris Clarke, the respected Chairman of both the Premiership Clubs and Cross Keys RFC, with a lifelong background in the community and club game.

Chris will now attend the monthly Board meetings of Pro Rugby Wales from January 2015.

Chris Clarke said: “The Premiership Clubs were unanimous in their support of closer links with Pro Rugby Wales and feel this opportunity acknowledges the contribution the Premiership brings to the development of past, present and future professional rugby players.

“We look forward to contributing to the discussion on the continual changing game of Professional rugby in Wales.”

Mark Davies, Chief Executive of Pro Rugby Wales, said: “The Premiership is a vital part of the pathway that develops young Welsh players to perform at the top of the professional game and we believe it is important that the Premiership Clubs are actively and directly involved in the fast moving evolution of the professional side of our sport.

“While the bedrock of the game in Wales is the community clubs who provide the opportunity for young players to test themselves at all levels, it is a simple fact that the professional game in Wales can only function effectively with the active contribution of the Premiership clubs.

“There are already positive and mutually beneficial working partnerships in place between the Regions and the Premiership clubs as shown by the depth of numbers of regionally contracted players that are playing for the semi-professional teams each weekend supporting player development.

“The Premiership represent a rich and passionate rugby heritage within our game and as we look to the future we look forward to the further development of our working partnership through their formal participation and voice on the Board of Pro Rugby Wales.”

The Board of RRW consists of some of Wales’ most experienced business leaders along with the directors of each of the Four Regions have hundreds of years of combined experience in running some of the country’s most successful businesses, from blue chip companies such as Tesco and Honda to iconic Welsh brands such as Penderyn and Peter’s Pies.

The Board of Pro Rugby Wales currently: Robin Cammish (Chairman), Mark Davies (Chief Executive), Alan Whiteley (Independent Director), Nigel Short (Chairman Scarlets), Jon Daniels, (Chief Operating Officer, Scarlets), Andrew Hore, Chief Executive, Ospreys), Roger Blyth, (Chairman, Ospreys), Martyn Hazell, (Chairman, Newport Gwent Dragons), Peter Thomas, (Chairman, Cardiff Blues), Richard Holland, (Chief Executive, Cardiff Blues), Chris Clarke (Principality Premiership clubs in Wales).

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

PRO RUGBY IN WALES; key facts

4 Professional Rugby Sides in top two levels of European Competition
4 Semi Professional Sides in Domestic League and B&I Cup
4 U18 Age grade sides; 6 U16 Age grade sides; 4 Ladies sides
Collective turnover approaching £30m per annum
Direct economic contribution to Wales in excess of £50m per annum
Provide employment for almost 1,000 people
More than 600 professional and semi-professional rugby players
More than 50 highly skilled coaching, conditioning and medical staff
100 + Welsh Business Suppliers
200 Contracted Professional Players
80 Contracted Academy Players
120 Contracted Semi Professional Players
120 Age Grade Players
80 Ladies players
More than 16,000 season ticket holders
450,000 season attendance
More than 100,000 supporting Welsh regional derbies last season

Irish Londoner wrote:So is this the final acceptance by the Premiership clubs that the Regions are now here to stay as the pinnacle of professional rugby in Wales and they are better off forming a proper grouping with them for player pathways, coaching, development, etc.

Or is it the formation of an alliance designed to have yet another tilt at the WRU sometime in the future?

Or a bit of both?

LondonTiger wrote:

Irish Londoner wrote:So is this the final acceptance by the Premiership clubs that the Regions are now here to stay as the pinnacle of professional rugby in Wales and they are better off forming a proper grouping with them for player pathways, coaching, development, etc.

Or is it the formation of an alliance designed to have yet another tilt at the WRU sometime in the future?

Or a bit of both?

Highlighted bit I suspect.