What is the current state of regional rugby in Wales as we head in to a new season
With everyone still reeling from the Lions victory over Australia and with many Welsh rugby alumni stating that this current Welsh team could go all the way in the 2015 World Cup there is still that undeniable black cloud hovering over Welsh regional rugby.
Last season ended with unfortunate controversy with the regions making headline news on an almost nightly basis as more and more players left the four Welsh sides to play rugby on greener grass on the other side in France and England. Players who will forever be remembered as Lions legends after their victory Down Under such as Jamie Roberts and George North are leaving the country to pursue their careers in the French Super 14 and the Aviva Premiership respectively.
What went wrong? That is the question but the million dollar question is how do the regions bring the players back or at least how do they keep the players they currently have from packing their bags and grabbing their passports.
The Salary cap that was introduced in July 2012 might not help the regional management teams as they attempt to attract players to their clubs. Last year Regional Rugby Wales brought in a £3.5 million salary cup which acts as a limit on the amount the sides can spend on their squads thus resulting in many players receiving a much lower salary than a player of the same standard or even lower that plays in another country. No wonder then that many have been lured in by the money that is flooding the French game. Despite the high numbers leaving Welsh shores, Regional Rugby Wales chairman, Stuart Gallacher, is far from concerned - "We have to be realistic that occasionally we are going to lose them. Fifteen years ago, before professionalism, we lost them to rugby league".
What Gallacher is saying is true but it is also true that it was during this period that Wales went through one of its worst periods of rugby in its history, the dark days if you like of both international and premiership rugby. Even though Wales are looking very strong as a national side having won back to back Six Nation championships, if players continue to leave the country in such numbers in seasons to come there is no doubt that this high standard that Gatland and Howley have achieved will not be sustained.
As it has been said a million times, the regions have to figure out a solution to the mess that their in and they must do it with haste because it will not only be the players who will be leaving the regions it will be the supporters too if their teams continue to disappoint.
However, I shall not delve any deeper in to the thick black tar-like lake of negativity that seems to continuously flow in to the rivers of the Welsh regions. Instead why not look at what positives the regions have going for them as they prepare for a new season in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 and the Heineken Cup.
Jonathan Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Toby Faletau and numerous other Welsh regional players have played some of the best rugby of their lives to help win the 2013 Lions tour in Australia. Surely the experiences they collected on the other side of the world will help not only themselves as individual players but their whole team as they advance into the new season to face some very tough opposition. Two Welsh players in Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones captained the Lions to their first victory in 16 years - that's not too shabby is it.
Let us not forget about the national summer tour of Japan that Wales went on at the beginning of the summer. Despite losing their final test, the incredibly young national side emphasised to the people of Wales that there is undeniable strength and depth of talent in the country and to add another plus to this the majority of these players are being developed in the regional academies. Home grown talent at its best. This immensely benefits the regions as they will be able to have international level players in their squad without forking out hundreds of thousands for players from overseas.
So, there you have it. Even though the regional game in Wales is far from seeing the storm pass over their heads, everything is not all bad for the four Welsh regions as they head in to a new season of rugby.
Last season ended with unfortunate controversy with the regions making headline news on an almost nightly basis as more and more players left the four Welsh sides to play rugby on greener grass on the other side in France and England. Players who will forever be remembered as Lions legends after their victory Down Under such as Jamie Roberts and George North are leaving the country to pursue their careers in the French Super 14 and the Aviva Premiership respectively.
What went wrong? That is the question but the million dollar question is how do the regions bring the players back or at least how do they keep the players they currently have from packing their bags and grabbing their passports.
The Salary cap that was introduced in July 2012 might not help the regional management teams as they attempt to attract players to their clubs. Last year Regional Rugby Wales brought in a £3.5 million salary cup which acts as a limit on the amount the sides can spend on their squads thus resulting in many players receiving a much lower salary than a player of the same standard or even lower that plays in another country. No wonder then that many have been lured in by the money that is flooding the French game. Despite the high numbers leaving Welsh shores, Regional Rugby Wales chairman, Stuart Gallacher, is far from concerned - "We have to be realistic that occasionally we are going to lose them. Fifteen years ago, before professionalism, we lost them to rugby league".
What Gallacher is saying is true but it is also true that it was during this period that Wales went through one of its worst periods of rugby in its history, the dark days if you like of both international and premiership rugby. Even though Wales are looking very strong as a national side having won back to back Six Nation championships, if players continue to leave the country in such numbers in seasons to come there is no doubt that this high standard that Gatland and Howley have achieved will not be sustained.
As it has been said a million times, the regions have to figure out a solution to the mess that their in and they must do it with haste because it will not only be the players who will be leaving the regions it will be the supporters too if their teams continue to disappoint.
However, I shall not delve any deeper in to the thick black tar-like lake of negativity that seems to continuously flow in to the rivers of the Welsh regions. Instead why not look at what positives the regions have going for them as they prepare for a new season in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 and the Heineken Cup.
Jonathan Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Toby Faletau and numerous other Welsh regional players have played some of the best rugby of their lives to help win the 2013 Lions tour in Australia. Surely the experiences they collected on the other side of the world will help not only themselves as individual players but their whole team as they advance into the new season to face some very tough opposition. Two Welsh players in Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones captained the Lions to their first victory in 16 years - that's not too shabby is it.
Let us not forget about the national summer tour of Japan that Wales went on at the beginning of the summer. Despite losing their final test, the incredibly young national side emphasised to the people of Wales that there is undeniable strength and depth of talent in the country and to add another plus to this the majority of these players are being developed in the regional academies. Home grown talent at its best. This immensely benefits the regions as they will be able to have international level players in their squad without forking out hundreds of thousands for players from overseas.
So, there you have it. Even though the regional game in Wales is far from seeing the storm pass over their heads, everything is not all bad for the four Welsh regions as they head in to a new season of rugby.
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