WRU sticking to three-team plan - Reddin
Director of rugby Dave Reddin says the Welsh Rugby Union has to stick with their controversial three-team plan due to the "brutal economics".
Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) director of rugby Dave Reddin has reiterated the organization's commitment to reducing the number of professional men's teams, despite backlash against their plans. The WRU is set to cut from four to three teams by 2028, with Ospreys and Scarlets competing to be the lone representative from west Wales. Cardiff and Dragons will be safe, while Swansea-based Ospreys and Llanelli-based Scarlets will compete for the remaining spot.
Reddin asserts that the funding is insufficient to support four competitive teams, as the union currently subsidizes men's clubs for approximately 50% of their turnover. He emphasizes that the WRU has inherited financial issues that have been accumulating for over a decade and that the current administration faces difficult choices.
The WRU plans to hold a rugby summit in December to discuss the restructuring and assess the interests of all stakeholders, including the professional teams and other parties involved. Reddin also addressed the link between the women's game and the potential cuts to the men's game, stating that the two issues are not connected. He expressed the WRU's commitment to investing in the women's game and participating in the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) as soon as possible.
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