STATEMENT BY WALES’ FOUR RUGBY REGIONS ON LAUNCH OF REGIONAL RUGBY WALES LTD
Since the advent of regional rugby in Wales and the signing of a participation agreement with the WRU in 2004, it has become clear that a stronger partnership approach to the running and administration of professional rugby in Wales is now required. Other nations, including England and France, have met similar challenges by creating progressive partnerships between their professional tiers and respective governing bodies and we believe such an approach in Wales is long overdue.
This need is highlighted by the attempts over the past 18 months to reach a conclusion over an extended participation agreement, which is due to expire in May next year. Having reached a basis of agreement with the WRU in May last year, culminating in a written offer from the Union, we have since found ourselves back at the drawing board after the Union inexplicably withdrew the agreed offer it had made. Over the past three months, the Regions and the WRU have subsequently had over 14 meetings, where little or no progress has been achieved.
Most recently, the issue of player release has been the latest indication that a more considered approach to the game must be adopted. The mid-season request for additional player release at the expense of existing, scheduled, professional cross-border competition only goes to highlight the current lack of well-considered strategic planning. As previously stated, the Regions have always treated as paramount our part in support of the national team which, last year, saw the Regions release players for nearly twice the amount of time formally required. But, whilst certain Union executives have received bonuses paid for through the use of these players, the very same executives have failed to fulfil their agreement to recompense the Regions for using them in the first place.
As the national coach has so correctly identified, England and other nations are indeed at a greater advantage to Wales, but not just in having greater access to players for international duties. Their advantage is derived from working practices aimed at the betterment of the game as a whole through the creation of true partnership bodies.
These organisations have thoughtfully and collectively addressed issues such as rugby development, elite player development, academy systems, player welfare, enhanced domestic marketing, season structure and jointly taken advantage of enhanced funding streams to deliver commercial sustainability.
It is for these reasons that the four Regions have jointly taken the initiative of establishing Regional Rugby Wales Ltd, a company specifically formed to represent and administer the combined professional rugby interests of all four Regions in Wales. We believe Regional Rugby Wales can act as a catalyst for a new era of the professional game in Wales and begin the process of driving a new strategic approach to the game, similar to that now enjoyed by other leading nations in the rugby playing world. In order to help add impetus to this goal, Regional Rugby Wales has appointed as its interim chief executive, the architect of regional rugby in Wales, former WRU chief executive David Moffett. With the sole mandate of Regional Rugby Wales and the four Regions, David will now lead discussions with the WRU aimed at delivering a long-term, sustainable solution for the administration of the professional game in Wales.
RRW interim chief executive David Moffett said:
“The establishment of Regional Rugby Wales by the four Welsh regions is a highly positive step and one I am sure the WRU will welcome. The Regions have quite rightly recognised that, like other nations, the key to the future success of the game lies in a professional partnership for the overall success of the game.
“The modern era of rugby requires modern solutions and I firmly believe the time has come for both Regions and Union to embrace the best practice already employed by other nations and arrive at a similar outcome and similar advantage for Wales.
“I have no doubt that with a true partnership effort, by the time of the Six Nations we can have achieved an outcome that will take Wales forwards to ever greater success.
