'Cut two Regions' - WRU announces its ‘proposed optimal system’ for the future of elite rugby in Wales

Typically, for Welsh Rugby journalists, this time of year is about getting supporters ready for the upcoming United Rugby Championship (URC) season or the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup with insight and previews of what is to be expected; however, the summer of 2025 hasn’t been plain sailing, certainly not for Welsh Rugby.

The formal consultation, which begins early next month, will attempt to address the key challenges that Welsh Rugby have been facing and the impact that today’s announcement will have on both the professional and national teams.

This is the WRU’s optimal solution, a reduction in the number of regions from four to two, as “it’s clear that the Welsh elite rugby system is no longer achieving its aims”. To summarise, the need for change has never been more substantial, as the four male professional teams - Cardiff, Ospreys, Dragons, and Scarlets- are not funded at a level where they can compete.

The male playing talent is spread out over too many clubs, so it was highlighted that key players for the national side do not play together enough at the right competitive level.

The proposed optimal system contains five interdependent elements which will work together to enhance performance in the top echelon of the game. One of those elements is the two clubs- each made up of one professional men’s side and one women’s side (locations and names to be determined).

The model of two professional clubs will be funded for “excellence”, and the WRU’s ambition is to deliver a systemic transformational change for the future success of Welsh Rugby. The performance expectations are to be raised as follows;

To put it simply, the game in Wales is at a crossroads, and whatever decision is made to improve the game in Wales will create a “long-term, sustainable, and defensible competitive advantage”.

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.

The deadline for the consultation is expected to be announced by the Board at the end of October. By then, all four professional male teams would have played five URC matches before some regional players will be heading into the Welsh camp ahead of a crucial 2025 Quilter Autumn Nations Series.

Spearhead of the WRU’s executive team, Director of Rugby and Elite Performance, Dave Reddin added: "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.

Reddin also stated in a media press conference, which lasted nearly an entire rugby match, that small nations like Wales need to collaborate. That’s where they proposed a new rugby campus, which has been labelled as a “generational investment” with the main aim of quickly improving collaboration.

The proposed facility will have six pitches with four indoor 4G pitches, with several shared facilities which will bring together up to 400 players and staff. Along with the male and female teams and staff, the four professional sides will also be based on the campus.

“This is about designing for elite performance, it’s about concentration of talent in an environment that makes that talent outperform its inherent capacity, that’s what we are looking to do”, stated Reddin.

The Transformational systemic pathway will also see investment into the newly formed Super Rygbi Cymru league, which only began last season. Whilst there will also be a substantial amount of focus on the pathway, where they will expand player development centres and help coaches for future success.

WRU chair, Richard Collier-Keywood, said, “I am pleased to see that this consultation includes listening to people from all aspects of the game in Wales. Every player and fan story starts somewhere, and we have encouraged our teams to get a full range of views from grassroots through pathways, up to elite level.