After nearly two years of infighting the Welsh Rugby Union and the four Welsh regions, Ospreys, Scarlets, Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons, have come to an agreement on the future of Welsh rugby. In a deal that runs until 2020 six top Welsh players will be offered dual WRU/Regional contracts. As a result the Regions will get an increase in funding from £6.7million – £8.7million, with the increase in funding to cover the cost of the dual funded contracts.
Threat of Breakaway Averted
The deal brings peace to a war between the WRU and regions that had threatened to tear Welsh Rugby apart. With the regions looking for more funding from the WRU but did not want to accept centrally contracted players. Against the backdrop of increasing protracted arguments about the future of European club rugby the split was all too obvious with the WRU siding with European Rugby Cup (ERC) in support of the current Heineken Cup, and the Regions put their support behind the new format proposed by the English Clubs. A compromise was reached in the European arena but there was still a divide in Wales with the possibility of the regions looking to go it alone and join the Aviva Premiership to create an Anglo Welsh league. The agreement of this deal will now put the uncertainty behind and allow Welsh Rugby to move forward.
Gatland to Choose Dual Contracted Players
The six players offered dual contracts by the Welsh RFU will be chosen by head coach Warren Gatland, with Captain Sam Warburton already having a contract with the WRU. The peace deal now leaves Warburton able to re-join his club Cardiff Blues after being left possibly without a club by the dispute. Gatland’s selection will also now take a page from England counterpart Stuart Lancaster, focusing on domestic players. However unlike England Gatland will be able to make exceptions, whereas current England policy only allows selection of foreign based players in “exceptional circumstances”. This will be good news to players such as Mike Phillips and Jamie Roberts currently based in France, and Paul James and George North who are currently playing in the Aviva Premiership in England. However the move to focus on domestic players should stem the recent tide of players moving abroad, as Gatland will not want to make too many exceptions.
In addition to the dual contracted players the regions have also agreed to limit the amount of imported players. Each region will only be able to sign six players who do not qualify to represent Wales. The WRU will hope this will give the best opportunity for Welsh players to develop and to perform for their regions, and in turn be better players for the national side. Also January 2015 will see the return of fixtures Wales A which will give fringe players a further opportunity to impress Warren Gatland.
This deal was essential of Welsh Rugby in order to get its house in order. The continuation of this dispute had threatened to tear it apart and had left the National Captain in limbo. However with all the relevant parties now signing from the same hymn sheet, Welsh rugby can move forward. The addition of dual contracts will allow more time and control over the players by the national team, and the WRU will hope that has a positive impact on the side heading into next year’s World Cup. The revival of Wales A and restriction of imported players looks to a longer development plan and the WRU will hope it pays dividends down the line. The regions will be happy about the increase in revenue, and the tighter selection process should allow them to retain more of their star players and may even be able to attract some of those currently playing abroad home. If this deal is a success for both parties an increase in the number of dual contracted players would be a potential addition when the deal is up for renewal in 2020. However if things don’t go as planned rugby in Wales could be back to square one.
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