WRU – The Unity Pathway (2017 Update)
The Great Welsh Rugby Regional Lie
Please find my final blog
WELSH RUGBY – WHAT WENT WRONG ?
It is Dec 2023 and has Welsh rugby ever been in a worse place ? We have just had very damaging reports on Welsh rugby culture, major player welfare legal actions and below team Wales, we have a unintegrated, non inclusive and unloved structure at almost every level. Owen Robins argues that Welsh Rugby has lost it’s soul and only way forward now is to create inclusive, integrated regional rugby for all.
The journey Welsh rugby decided to take was only ever going to end in the place we have now – I called it the End Game in my previous blogs.
How did this happen ?
The Great Welsh Regional Rugby Lie is the answer – Welsh rugby has created an unintegrated, non inclusive and unworkable structure of pretend regions, that has impacted every level of the game.
We have created the following as just a few examples of the non inclusive and unintegrated issues
- Valleys & North Wales excluded or alienated from structure as no pro team based in Valleys / North
- WRU School Districts with same names of some “regions”
- Certain WRU clubs given special status
- Elite Development Clubs to replace WRU clubs as feeders to “regions”
- Claims by some that we are almost operating a cartel by blocking other WRU clubs from pro rugby.
- Structural issues at top leads to issues with affinity & identity at all levels of game.
- This dis-jointed system has created lack of crowds and empty grounds.
- A broken bond between Wales and it’s WRU clubs.
WRU states we have regional rugby but just because you say it, does not make it the truth. The fact is that we have a structure in place, one which has faltered and failed for the past 20 years, based on a concept of “regions” that simply do not exist.
WRU “Region” – Scarlets (Location = South of M4)
At present Llanelli RFC no longer exists as some claim it is the Scarlets, whilst others claim Scarlets represents West Wales. How we have created a structure where one of the greatest rugby clubs in Welsh rugby history is no more is beyond belief but that is what we have done.
WRU “Region” – Ospreys (Location = South of M4)
It could be argued that this is the one true region in Welsh rugby – However the team plays out of the Swansea football ground (Swansea.com stadium) and comes under West Wales in terms of location. Swansea is less than 10 miles from Llanelli.
WRU “Region” – Cardiff (Location = South of M4)
At present Cardiff RFC still exists but some claim it is the Rags, whist others claim Cardiff RFC is the region, whist others claim Cardiff is the “Blues”. Cardiff is just 1 WRU club in a Union. How we have created a structure like this is beyond belief.
WRU “Region” – Dragons (Location = South of M4)
The Dragons promotes itself as Gwent rugby – However the team plays out of Newport, promotes Newport and wears Newport colours. Newport football club also plays out of the same ground. Many say the team is Newport, whilst others claim it does not represent Newport – A unintegrated mess.
North Wales & Valleys Rugby – The Missing Regions (location = North of M4)
“They Killed Valleys Rugby” is a chapter and quote from the coach, Lynn Howells, that summed up what happened to rugby in Valleys. “In my view Moffett had no consideration what happened to rugby in the valleys, which were among the traditional hotbeds of Welsh rugby,” claims Howells.
“He gave no thought to communities. You only have to look at Pontypridd. It has been part of the hotbed of rugby, but people from the Glamorgan valleys have nothing to support.”
Former Wales and World Cup winning coach Graham Henry stated the following about the creation of a so called regional structure in Welsh rugby.
“How one of the franchise teams was not based in Pontypridd has always been a mystery to me. That enormous passion for the game in Wales seemed to me to have its backbone in the Valleys, and Pontypridd lead that.”
Current Wales coach, Warren Gatland has stated the following about what Welsh rugby needs to do “the Dragons take in Pontypridd and the Valleys while setting up a new side in north Wales”.
The Valleys are still a core, viable rugby region with North Wales offering huge opportunity to grow game as Connacht has done in Ireland.
Welsh rugby needs the Valleys and North Wales to engage with pro rugby. We need unity, inclusion, reform and regions that all WRU clubs can identify and have affinity with. Our great historic WRU clubs can then feed into their inclusive regions that they support and are part of. Rugby hurts. The badge matters. As Munster has shown, the bond between fans and team is vital. New Zealand & Ireland are great examples of inclusive, integrated regional structures that works. All we have to do is copy and paste in Welsh.
The below Pontypridd RFC 2023 press release says it all
“It is clear that for the last 20 years or so the WRU have been labouring under the catastrophically damaging misapprehension that somehow, the professional game can exist in a bubble almost completely disconnected operationally and culturally from the semi pro game, the community game, and schools and universities.”
“This is not a new phenomenon and has been evident for over 20 years, compounded by a refusal to ever admit hugely damaging structural mistakes have been made.”
The End Game is now over. The WRU has created a structure that divides, is non inclusive, lacks affinity and has broken our national game.
I hope, one day this blog can be updated with a new future for Welsh rugby, but for me now – this is the end.
This is now a record of my stand and a record of how we have destroyed a national sport.
This is my final blog.
U16 Welsh Rugby -Transition Time
Welsh rugby is a Union of WRU Clubs. The Mini & Junior sections (M&J) of our WRU clubs are a critical pathway to the success of Welsh rugby and are increasingly the lifeblood and heart of our clubs. These M&J sections are the real academy structures of Welsh rugby.
As a parent and backs coach from age 6 to age 16, I have lived through and seen many challenges and more than a few issues over the years as both parents and children get to know and develop with the game. For many, both parents and children, the enjoyment and release rugby can create is priceless. Rugby can teach us so much about life and the communities we live in. In some ways Welsh rugby clubs are the very fabric of our communities – The bond that keeps us together.
The Transition Year is Age 16 or Year 11 in school. At Age 16 our kids turn into young adults and start making decisions that will dictate the rest of their lives. It is crucial time for them and a crucial time for our rugby clubs. I will focus on rugby and leave others to debate if 16 is the right age for other life decisions such as a vote.
As a coach this year has been the most difficult of the last 10 years – From age 6 – 16. Just when Welsh rugby needs the most stable and most secure Transition year we have the exact opposite.
I will list the Transition challenges in order of difficulty – Many are easy to resolve if our Union wants to.
1) Regional Age Grade rugby
The impact on M&J U16 clubs is incredible. The blocks breakup and disrupt training and reduce amount of games. If your club is not impacted for their Sunday fixture the team you are playing will be. The damage is off the scale and feedback if ever asked would be shocking. All we have to do is play the RAG games on a Wed evening and allow players, when able, to play for their clubs on a Sunday. No coach will ever hold back players so we have to sort this out as this is such an important Transition Year for our players and rugby clubs.
2) U16 football
Boys have choices in life and sport. Football and rugby can work together for the benefit of all. Having both U16 football and U16 rugby at the same time on a Sunday is almost beyond belief. Welcome to U16 sport in the Rhymney and Mid District Valleys. How Sport Wales allowed this is just so hard to understand. Just play U16 football on a Sat and problem goes away.
3) Exams
Stressful times as GCSE mock and exams land. No easy answer to this apart from support and understanding we can all give. Maybe revision sessions as a team is 1 way to help and keep the bond.
4) Youth rugby
At Age 16 boys can play Youth for their clubs. The physicality and age jump can be very daunting for many boys and we must all work harder and find solutions to help the transition best we can. U17 games and joint training sessions are a good way forward. Maybe more involvement from RAG coaches at this U16 age level would be another way of improving the support and creating a better bond with clubs.
5) Weekend jobs & social
Always going to be challenges as work and social distractions create drop off but tickets to RAG and Pro Rugby & Wales games would help keep the link with club. Regular contact is another way of showing interest and that we care.
Hopefully this blog will create a bit of thought and debate. Welsh rugby has to solve the Transition Year to enable a vibrant and viable future for our great game.
WRU – The Unity Pathway (2017 Update)
WRU – The Unity Pathway (May 2017 Update)
This is an update to my previous 2015 blog https://owenins.wordpress.com/2015/09/05/wru-the-unity-pathway/ The blog was created as a pathway to unity & affinity in Welsh rugby. I have decided to update the unity pathway due to the movement towards WRU owned regions in Welsh rugby.
The WRU Unity Pathway is a long term rugby development model that aspires to offer the game of rugby union in a unified way, so that all clubs and fans involved have the opportunity to develop, grow, identify and bond with our professional and national game.
The WRU have created pathways for players in Welsh rugby but have not created pathways for their member clubs. With the movement towards WRU owned regions, rugby in Wales is moving at a very fast pace of change. Recent developments include WRU purchase of Newport Gwent Dragons, potential WRU control of Cardiff Blues and increased WRU player ownership through dual and central contracted players.
This has raised some very important questions for Welsh rugby
Q – The owners of the WRU are the districts and clubs of the Union. With WRU ownership of regions these districts and clubs now become owners of their regions. As owners of WRU regions, how do the districts and clubs become integrated into their WRU owned regions?
Q – Are the districts, clubs and their regions “together as one” now – Success directly linked?
Q – What name do the districts and clubs call their WRU owned regions?
Q – Do WRU owned regions need to purchase their grounds & where should they play?
The WRU has made it very clear:
WRU wants regional rugby, not “super” clubs pretending to be regions.
We need to reform the current system so that the 9 WRU Districts and their clubs are integrated into their new WRU regions. With clubs and districts as owners and partners, working in collaboration with their regions, a viable structure can be obtained. This integrated approach creates an opportunity for all clubs of the union to support pro rugby and would create local community support, identity, affinity and real bond between clubs and their regions. Player pathway systems would feed into their district and club owned WRU regions. Player pathway players are to be linked to home clubs when not representing their clubs at their regions.
In countries such as Ireland and NZ this structure works well as clubs are stakeholders and partners of their regional provinces and regions. These real regions create, encourage and develop affinity and unity.
With district and club owned WRU regions we can move forward with sponsorship and business investment as supporters of the system and thus avoiding benefactor owners who can walk away.
Rugby is our national sport – We are a Union for all and not the select few.
PATHWAY TO UNITY – WRU OWNED REGIONS
1) WRU commissions a survey and works with the 9 WRU districts, in order to establish their preferred regional boundaries and their regional name. Clubs on boundaries can move between regions with agreement of WRU. Discussions are to include potential creation of regional boards or replacement / merging of districts to align with their regions. As districts and clubs are now owners of their regions then this should be a positive and proactive process of change. The findings must be transparent and open for fans to see.
The 9 Districts of the WRU are
- District A – Gwent
- District B – Cardiff
- District C – Valleys
- District D – Mid Glamorgan
- District E – Swansea
- District F – Swansea Valley
- District G – West Glamorgan
- District H – West Wales
- District J – North Wales
Proposed WRU owned Regions
Option 1
Gwent (District A) – Current WRU owned region.
Valleys (District C / D / G)
South Wales (District B / D / G)
West Wales (District E / F / G / H)
RGC North Wales (District J) – Development region
Welsh Exiles / London Welsh – Development region.
Option 2
East Wales (District A) – Current WRU owned region.
South Wales (District B / C / D / G)
West Wales (District E / F / G / H)
North Wales (District J) – Current WRU owned region
WRU reviews the findings and creates a unified and integrated structure that all clubs and fans can now support.
2) New reformed districts / regional boards to confirm a percentage of games at selected grounds around region. School, college, supporter group structures to be integrated into district / regional boards. Pathway players to be allocated to their home clubs when not playing representative rugby for their integrated regions.
3) Operating structure, business plans, governance, commercial strategy, branding and funding streams to be established with WRU guidance and agreement. Franchise system of operating the new WRU owned regions to be considered.
WRU – The Unity Pathway
The WRU Player pathway is a long term player development model that aspires to offer the game of rugby union in a progressive way, so that all those involved have the opportunity to experience the game and develop within the game.
This player development approach now includes the historic clubs of the Union. As recent statement from WRU says about the club game. “It provides appropriate development opportunities to players and coaches within the WRU’s agreed rugby pathway structure. These latest changes are in line with the WRU Board’s pledge to continue their consideration of the Competitions Pathway Working Group recommendations”. These development and player pathway changes include promoting “New rules” rugby through increased points for a try, linking college players to clubs, FAW type split leagues, no meritocracy and creation of regional select teams in the B&I Cup. The WRU have decided that the clubs of the Union are pathway teams that develop…
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Graham Henry Claim Still Finds Echo In The Valleys
Please find my latest updated blog published by Dai Sport website and Graham Thomas.
Link is here Dai Sport – Owen Robins Blog
Ponty power: Pontypridd line up to face Bath in a Heineken Cup tie at Sardis Road in 1997. Pic: Getty Images.
The opening rounds of the British and Irish Cup produced a string of poor results for the newly-created Welsh Premiership Select teams. Only the Scarlets Premiership Select VX won (twice) among the opening eight matches featuring Welsh sides and there were some heavy defeats for the Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys. Owen Robins argues that the failure to keep Pontypridd in the tournament – and grow the club into a region – is a costly mistake.
Former Wales and World Cup winning coach Graham Henry stated the following about the creation of a so called regional structure in Welsh rugby.
“How one of the franchise teams was not based in Pontypridd has always been a mystery to me. That enormous passion for the game in Wales seemed to me to have its backbone in the Valleys, and Pontypridd lead that.”
Well, Graham – nothing has changed. We are in 2016 and the Valleys are still the heart of Welsh rugby. Pontypridd and the Valleys are still a core, viable and real rugby region waiting for the mystery to be solved.
When Pontypridd RFC went to away games in the B&I Cup it was great to watch the shock and surprise of the English/Irish/ Scots home supporters at the scale, noise and numbers of Valley Commandos entering their ground. The shock turned to want as time after time fully pro teams were beaten by the Pont. This Valleys team had real soul.
Compare that to the almost non-existent support for the regional Premiership select teams that replaced WRU clubs in this RFU club-based competition and you have a real problem. Add in the total lack of success of these teams without soul and you have a rugby disaster of epic proportions. To sum up the scale of this, read the following recent comment from a leading BBC Cornwall sports reporter.
Dick Straughan @DickStraughan
“I love Welsh rugby but @WelshRugbyUnion can we please have your club sides back in #bandicup“
This dis-jointed system is having a huge impact on crowds supporting our great Welsh rugby clubs. As my blog below shows, some great clubs like Cardiff and Llanelli are now only getting a few hundred as their home gate. This is a direct result of an unstructured system. The intention, as detailed in a WRU press release on the creation of Premiership select teams, was to also submit these sides in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. It is worth noting that the WRU have now allowed regional “A” teams to be entered in this similar development tournament. This is just another example of the sheer scale of disunity and dis-jointed systems that pretend regions are creating.
https://owenins.wordpress.com/2016/10/25/welsh-rugby-unity-where-are-the-crowds-2016-update/
A national newspaper poll asked why the current Welsh rugby regional structure was not well supported. The poll results showed that the No.1 Issue was a lack of affinity. For the majority of fans, the home ground, colours, and name of one city-based club – which also has a semi-pro team with the same name – is not what regional rugby is about. For others, it is called the Great Welsh Rugby Lie – See Ponty article below on this.
http://www.ponty.net/this-is-my-truth-tell-me-yours
The fact is that we have a structure in place, one which has faltered and failed for the past 10 years, based on a concept of “regions” that simply do not exist.
Pontypridd and its Valleys supporters have no problem with affinity. We know what we are and what we stand for – we are Valleys people. We have a worldwide-known brand and a landscape made for rugby. It is a national disgrace that the most regional Welsh team is not represented in the top tier of Welsh rugby.
The English Championship clubs would be delighted to play a Valleys club on a regular basis. Games against Bedford, London Scottish, London Irish, Yorkshire, Cornwall etc. would be well supported, create real investment, enhance TV monies and provide a huge boost to Welsh rugby.
Welsh rugby needs the Valleys to engage with pro rugby. We need unity, reform and real regions that all clubs can identify and have affinity with. Rugby hurts. The badge matters. As Munster have recently shown, the bond between fans and team is vital. New Zealand is a great example of a regional structure that works. All we have to do is copy and paste in Welsh.
The alternative is almost unthinkable. It is a future with Pontypridd and other great clubs acting as feeder clubs to unloved pretend regions and pretend regional “A” teams in the B&I and Anglo Welsh Cups, development split leagues where clubs do not know who they are playing in the second half of a season, and a broken bond between the majority of fans and WRU teams.
We have come to a point of no return. The WRU has created a structure that divides, lacks affinity and is damaging our national game. Instead of a system that all clubs and fans can support we have a failing and broken backbone.
The WRU must decide.
Vote YES – To return to a real Union that all can support.
Vote NO – For a divided Union that can break up.
The End Game is here.
Welsh Rugby Unity – Where are the crowds (2016 update)
The following are from
Official WRU crowd reports for semi pro Welsh premiership level (2014 / 2015) with 2015 / 2016 totals in brackets
The WRU require a 1.500 Minimum Crowd Capacity for their Welsh Premiership A license
Welsh rugby has a core rugby region in the Valleys that can harness and develop economic, social, health and sporting aspirations.
2014 / 2015 Average Welsh Premiership Crowds (2015 / 2016 in brackets)
1) Pontypridd RFC = 1,750 (1,750)
2) Ebbw Vale RFC = 1,000 (500 estimated)
3) Neath RFC = 850 (500 estimated)
4) Bridgend RFC = 650 (830)
5) Aberavon = 650 (500)
6) Llandovery = 500 (375)
7) Bedwas = 500 (250)
8) Newport = 500 (590)
9) Cardiff = 500 (300 estimated)
10) Carmarthen Quins= 400 (300)
11) Cross Keys = 350 (250 estimated)
12) Llanelli – 250 (200 estimated)
The largest crowd 2015 / 2016 was Ponty vs Cardiff = 3,200 Crowd at Sardis Road
The Lowest Crowd was Llanellli vs Bedwas = 160 Crowd at PyS
WHO WOULD YOU PROMOTE ?
WRU – The Unity Pathway
The WRU Player pathway is a long term player development model that aspires to offer the game of rugby union in a progressive way, so that all those involved have the opportunity to experience the game and develop within the game.
This player development approach now includes the historic clubs of the Union. As recent statement from WRU says about the club game. “It provides appropriate development opportunities to players and coaches within the WRU’s agreed rugby pathway structure. These latest changes are in line with the WRU Board’s pledge to continue their consideration of the Competitions Pathway Working Group recommendations”. These development and player pathway changes include promoting “New rules” rugby through increased points for a try, linking college players to clubs, FAW type split leagues, no meritocracy and creation of regional select teams in the B&I Cup. The WRU have decided that the clubs of the Union are pathway teams that develop players for other pro teams but with no transfer fees allowed.
In countries such as Ireland and NZ this structure works well as clubs are stakeholders and partners with their regional provinces and regions. These real regions create, encourage and develop Unity.
In Wales with have 4 professional teams (All south of the M4) run by PRW, who state they are not regions even though the WRU say they are. My previous blogs https://owenins.wordpress.com/2015/03/07/welsh-rugby-break-up-of-union/ have highlighted how this structure has excluded core rugby regions such as the Valleys and created huge affinity and Identity issues for the majority of fans. This system creates conflict, divide, anger, disfranchisement and dis-unity. To the credit of the new senior management of the WRU, it seems, this dis-unity has been accepted as the No 1 Issue holding back our national game. Both Chairman and CEO of the WRU have stated that Unity is at the top of their agendas.
The WRU Unity Pathway is a long term rugby development model that aspires to offer the game of rugby union in a unified way, so that all clubs and fans involved have the opportunity to develop, grow, Identify and bond with our professional and national game.
The WRU have decided the future is player pathways to regional teams. Player pathways can only work in a Unified system that all clubs and fans can support. Unity can be achieved. Unity is possible. Unity is the only viable structure but compromise is needed for that to be obtained. We need to reform the current system so that the 9 WRU Districts are stakeholders and partners in real regions that all can Identify with. With clubs and districts as real partners, working in collaboration with their regions a viable structure can be obtained. This integrated approach creates an opportunity for all clubs of the union to support pro rugby and would create local community support, Identity, affinity and bond between clubs and regions. Player pathway systems would feed into real regions. Regional Cups should be introduced to all age groups at mini to junior levels creating affinity with the unity regions.
The debate over the names and locations of the real regions should be decided by the great and historic clubs and districts of our Union. When the Union of clubs has decided the structure of their regions we can then move forward with sponsorship and business investment as supporters of the system – Not owners.
Rugby is our national sport – We are a Union for all and not the select few.
PATHWAY TO UNITY REGIONS
1) WRU commissions a survey of the 9 WRU districts as to their preferred regional boundaries and regional name. Each district can propose current boundaries and names if majority from district deem that as the most unified system. Each district (or agreed district split) is to be allocated to their proposed region and names for their proposed unity region agreed upon. The findings must be transparent and open for fans to see.
This survey to include the potential of development regions which has worked for Ireland. Fully professional rugby teams have been beaten by semi-professional teams in Wales (Due to player strength in depth) and it is accepted that funding levels may be different depending on Meritocracy.
The WRU reviews the findings and creates a Unified structure that all clubs and fans can support.
The 9 Districts of the WRU are
• District A – Gwent
• District B – Cardiff
• District C – Valleys
• District D – Mid Glamorgan
• District E – Swansea
• District F – Swansea Valley
• District G – West Glamorgan
• District H – West Wales
• District J – North Wales
Example of Proposed Unity Regions
Gwent (District A)
Mid Glamorgan (District C / D)
South Glamorgan (District B / D)
West Glamorgan (District E / F / G)
West & North Wales (District H / F / J)
5 Unity Regions are deemed viable through reduced stadium debt, synergies from new integrated structure, increased income from additional derby fixtures and enhanced funding from the benefits of increased affinity and identity. The move towards a unified vision with 5 pro WRU regions would also allow greater access to any future B&I league. It is also proposed that funding may differ between regions and be decided by Meritocracy.
A Welsh Exiles / London Welsh region to be assessed for potential as an additional region.
2) A timetable established with PRW for reform and integration into the agreed new Unity structure.
3) Operating structure, business plans, governance, commercial strategy, branding and funding streams to be established with WRU guidance and agreement.
Meeting with Martyn Phillips, New WRU CEO
I am pleased to announce that Martyn Phillips, New WRU CEO, is meeting me in early Nov, after the World Cup. He has agreed to answer a selection of questions but is also looking to build solutions.My Q for the New WRU CEO, Martyn Phillips will be
“Do you want to bring rugby home and create a Unity Pathway for our national game?”What is your Q – Let me know and I will ask as many as possible. Answers will be published in a new blog.
Welsh Rugby Unity – Where are the Crowds
Welsh Rugby Unity – Where are the Crowds ?
The following are from
Official WRU crowd reports for Semi Pro Welsh Premiership Level (2014 / 2015)
The WRU require a 1.500 Minimum Crowd Capacity for their Welsh Premiership A license
Welsh rugby has a core rugby region in the Valleys that can harness and develop economic. social. health and sporting aspirations.
2014 / 2015 Average Welsh Premiership Crowds
1) Pontypridd RFC = 1,750
2) Ebbw Vale RFC = 1,000
3) Neath RFC = 850
4) Bridgend RFC = 650
5) Aberavon = 650
6) Llandovery = 500
7) Bedwas = 500
8) Newport = 500
9) Cardiff = 500
10) Carmarthen Quins= 400
11) Cross Keys = 350
12) Llanelli – 250
The largest crowd was Ponty vs Ebbw = 2,800 Crowd at Sardis Road
The Lowest Crowd was Cardiff vs Aberavon = 200 Crowd at CAP
WHO WOULD YOU PROMOTE ?
The Future of the Valleys – BBC Wales Programme
Have a watch of this programme from BBC Wales – It shows the great potential of the Valleys
Also worth watching the great section on Pontypridd RFC (4.35 mins in). The comments of the fans on the so called regional structure in South Wales are note worthy.
Welsh Rugby needs a structure all clubs and fans can support. That either involves promotion for clubs like Ponty or Real Rugby Regions that clubs can support.
The Valleys can change and prosper – Key drivers can be projects such as the Metro, Valleys Regional Park, Circuit of Wales and Pro Rugby in the Valleys.
Welsh Rugby - Reclaim Our Game 