Welsh Regions Struggle to Survive in Challenging Season
The 2022-23 rugby union season has been a significant challenge for the four Welsh professional sides, with mere survival being their most notable achievement, according to outgoing Dragons chief executive David Buttress.
Buttress revealed how close the Gwent region was to folding last summer, underscoring the precarious financial situation facing the Welsh teams. Cardiff, for instance, started the pre-season with just eight players, while teams have been forced to train against each other due to small squad sizes.
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan has had to wear multiple hats, taking on responsibilities such as defense coach and head of recruitment, further highlighting the limited resources available.
“The Welsh regions have been involved in a total of 91 competitive fixtures this season, including 72 league games, 16 in Europe, and an additional three for Ospreys in the Challenge Cup and United Rugby Championship (URC) knockout stages. They have collectively managed 27 victories, with 12 of those coming against fellow Welsh sides.”
Ospreys have emerged as the most successful of the four, winning 14 games – more than the other three regions combined (13). However, no Welsh team has managed to defeat a Scottish or Irish side, with Ospreys’ last-minute drop-goal victory over Ulster being the only exception.
Furthermore, Cardiff have only won against Welsh and South African opposition, while Scarlets have only triumphed against fellow Welsh regions and Italian teams. The Welsh regions’ already modest squad salary budgets are set to be reduced from £5.2m to £4.5m next season, making it challenging to expect significant improvements.
The signings announced for the upcoming season have been underwhelming, in contrast to Leinster’s acquisition of New Zealand center Jordie Barrett, highlighting the vast disparity in resources between the Welsh regions and their more affluent counterparts.
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