Sam Warburton calls for Welsh team to be AXED after Six Nations disaster
Rugby NewsSaturday, 19 April 2025 at 06:35
Following Wales’ worst Six Nations campaign in living memory and a run of 17 straight Test defeats, the former captain has doubled down on his call for radical reform—starting with axing one of the four Welsh regions.
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"Four regions don’t work"
Wales hit rock bottom with a crushing 68-14 loss to England in Cardiff, capping off Matt Sherratt’s final match as interim head coach. With a new director of rugby and head coach still to be appointed, Warburton says that leadership changes alone won’t fix the rot.
“If you're going to make a call, it's now,” he said on BBC’s Six Nations Rugby Special. “No action is the worst action now. Four regions don’t work. We haven’t got enough players.”
Cut one, save the rest
The Lions legend is calling on the Welsh Rugby Union to start honest conversations about mergers or closures. Whether the decision is based on geography or contribution to the national side, Warburton admitted it might mean the Dragons face the axe.
“It’s unfortunate, because there’s good work happening there,” he said, “but look at what happened with Wasps—Gloucester have taken over that player pathway. Leaders need to stick their heads above the parapet.”
A plan inspired by the Premiership
Warburton outlined a potential five-year plan to revive the game, using England’s accidental consolidation as a template. His proposal? Concentrate the top-tier playing pool into three elite regions, and feed the rest into the semi-pro Super Rygbi Cymru league.
“Maybe there are 30 players of national interest. The rest go into the league below, which is geographically well spread—including North Wales,” he explained.
Warren Gatland called it first
Warburton isn’t the first to ring the alarm. Former head coach Warren Gatland has previously called for bold changes in Welsh rugby, and Warburton now echoes those thoughts with urgency.
“This isn’t about finding 15 new players,” Warburton said. “It’s about fixing a system that’s been broken for two decades. I don’t have evidence that three teams will work—but I’ve got 20 years of evidence that four teams hasn’t.”
"You’re never going to please everyone"
Warburton urged WRU leaders to accept tough decisions will divide opinion, but the time for caution has passed. “You have to make the decision with the best chance of turning Welsh rugby around. Big changes are needed—it’s not working.”
He added: “It’s going to take pain. I don’t think we’ll win another title for five years. But if we start now, and commit to a long-term plan, we might finally get back on track.”
5 Big-Name Stars Set to Miss Out on the Lions Squad – Including Finn Russell!
With the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad announcement just around the corner, the rumour mill is already in overdrive. Andy Farrell’s selection promises to be one of the boldest in recent history—and not everyone is safe.
While some players have all but booked their tickets to Australia, others are sweating bullets. Whether it’s poor form, fierce competition, or a coach with long memories, a few major names could be on the chopping block.
Here are five shock omissions we
think are on the cards—and why their Lions dreams might be dead before the squad is even named…
1. Russell's Rollercoaster Could Crash Early
Finn Russell (Scotland)
Moments of magic? Always. But consistency? Not so much. Russell’s 2025 Six Nations was a mixed bag at best. A missed conversion against England and a disastrous showing versus France have left serious questions about his big-game temperament.
Add in the appointment of Johnny Sexton as Lions assistant coach, and things start looking bleak. In his autobiography, Sexton slammed Russell’s 2021 selection as a media-driven hype job—and he hasn’t softened since.
“If you want someone reliable in the trenches, you go with Owen Farrell,” Sexton recently told The Times, taking a not-so-subtle dig at Russell’s “flashy” style. He even spared Marcus Smith, calling him a “generational talent.” Finn? Not so lucky.
2. Ringrose Running Out of Time
Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
Not long ago, Ringrose looked like a nailed-on Lion. But a rocky Six Nations campaign could have sunk his chances. He was solid in Ireland’s first couple of games, then saw red against Wales and missed the crunch clash with France. His return against Italy? Ropey.
He’s still a classy operator on his day, but with Farrell spoiled for choice in the midfield, Ringrose may find himself edged out by younger, more in-form options.
3. Slade Slide May Prove Terminal
Henry Slade (England)
Once considered one of England’s most gifted backs, Slade’s stock has taken a major hit. His partnership with Ollie Lawrence was under heavy scrutiny heading into the Six Nations—and despite some signs of improvement, it didn’t last.
Fraser Dingwall took his place in the England squad, and now Slade’s international future—and Lions hopes—look grim. Having already missed out on the 2023 World Cup, the Exeter man may once again fall victim to poor form at the worst possible time.
4. Ritchie Rich... But Is It Enough?
Jamie Ritchie (Scotland)
He was one of Scotland’s top performers in the Six Nations—but that might not be enough. The Lions back-row battle is absolutely brutal this year, and with Jack Willis tearing it up in France, Farrell might favour more dominant ball-carriers and jackalers.
Ritchie has leadership and work rate in spades, but he could become the unlucky victim of ridiculous depth in one of the tour’s most hotly contested positions.
5. O'Mahony's Last Dance Could Be In The Studio
Peter O’Mahony (Ireland)
The veteran flanker rolled back the years against Scotland, delivering one of the performances of the tournament—but that flash of vintage POM might have been his swan song. His form faded fast, and a tough showing against France left fans wondering if the tank’s finally empty.
He’s since hung up his boots for Ireland, and unless Farrell is picking on nostalgia, O'Mahony is more likely to be analysing Lions games for Sky Sports than playing in them.
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