BBC Rugby Union News: Welsh Rugby Union Considering Reducing Regions, Boosting Funding
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has revealed that cutting the number of regions from four to three is still a possibility as they aim to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic game.
In a recent interview with Scrum V, WRU’s executive director of rugby Nigel Walker stated that the governing body hopes to offer Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets an “uplift” in funding in the coming years. Walker set a target annual budget of £5.5m to £6m to make each of the four regions more competitive.
“It’s been a tough season on and off the field,” Walker said, “but it’s not all doom and gloom. There are some shoots, particularly some of the Ospreys’ performances, but they have been too few and far between.”
However, Walker acknowledged the concerns around the sustainability of the global professional rugby union landscape, hinting that reducing the number of regions in Wales remains “on the table.” The WRU is also reportedly reviewing its participation in the United Rugby Championship (URC) after the current agreement.
Despite the challenges faced by the Wales national men’s and women’s teams, who finished bottom of their respective Six Nations campaigns, Walker assured that head coach Warren Gatland has the full backing of the governing body. The WRU is also engaged in ongoing talks to prevent the loss of talented players, such as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, to England.
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