WRU sets out plans to cut number of professional rugby teams in Wales

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has officially announced its desire to cut the number of fully-professional rugby teams in Wales.

The four professional sides – Dragons, Ospreys, Scarlets, and Cardiff – now face uncertain futures as the WRU launches a consultation into its proposals.

The four regional sides were formed in 2003, along with the long-defunct Celtic Warriors region.

Club teams across Caerphilly County Borough feed into the Dragons, who play home games at Newport’s Rodney Parade, and hold some training sessions at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach.

The WRU has suggested four models it could follow as it looks to overhaul the game in Wales.

Model A is to have four professional clubs with unequal funding. Model B is to have three professional clubs with equal funding.

The third model, Model C, would see three clubs with unequal funding.

Model D, which is the WRU’s preferred option, is to have two professional clubs with equal funding.

However, the governing body has not yet indicated where these two teams would play, or what they would be called.

In a statement, the WRU said: “The proposed optimal system seems to link best to Model D, which focuses playing talent and resources into two professional clubs, each in turn running two professional teams – one men’s and one women’s side. 

“The system will have the single goal of creating a ‘winning-Wales’ across the game. However, we recognise that there are alternatives including investing less in some of the wider systems changes which would then bring other models into focus.”

The statement continued: “If the two-club scenario is chosen it would release significant investment which, together with the substantial improvement in the WRU’s financial position over the last two years, would be used to enhance the existing semi-professional Super Rygbi Cymru league, narrowing the gap between Wales’ leading heritage clubs and the elite professional game.

“Crucially, we would also invest in accelerating the growth of the women’s game whilst also boosting the academy structure and player pathways feeding into the professional teams.”

The WRU has also said the creation of a “national campus” would be a “central element” of its decision to halve the number of pro sides.

A formal consultation on the plans starts on September 1, with a decision set to be made by the WRU in October.

Speaking about the consultation, WRU CEO Abi Tierney, said: “We are clear that the current rugby model in Wales is no longer delivering what our game needs. That’s why we’re inviting views on the opportunities for change we’ve put forward — so we can bring the One Wales Strategy to life.

“This consultation is about listening. No decisions have been made, and it’s crucial that we work together. Every voice matters, including, critically, our professional clubs, and everyone must have a seat at the table to help shape the future of rugby in Wales.”

Dave Reddin, the WRU’s director of rugby and elite performance, said: “This is a genuine consultation process and while we have our own ideas based on the research we have done, we know the best solutions come from listening.

“The approach we have designed is respectful, thorough, and inclusive and we encourage people to challenge our ideas and help us create something that we can all get behind.”

WRU Chair, Richard Collier-Keywood, said: “We have a once in a generation opportunity to get this right and create an exciting future for our game and this is a responsibility we are taking extremely seriously.”