“That is not planning. That is chaos” – Scarlets launch stinging attack on Welsh Rugby Union
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Not happy.
Scarlets have launched a stinging attack on the Welsh Rugby Union over plans to reduce the number of professional teams in Wales, with director of rugby Nigel Davies describing the process as “chaos”.
The future of professional rugby in Wales remains uncertain after the WRU confirmed plans to move from four professional teams to three by 2028.
Cardiff and Dragons have been given assurances over their futures, leaving Scarlets and Ospreys facing the prospect of competing for the remaining place.
Scarlets, however, have made it clear they have no intention of disappearing.
Speaking to The Guardian, Davies questioned how Welsh rugby had arrived at its current position after a series of significant changes in direction from the governing body.
“It’s all so random at the moment, isn’t it?” Davies said.
“We’ve gone from four, definitely, to two, to three. I mean, it would be unacceptable in any other walk of life.
“That is not planning. That is chaos.”
Scarlets chairman Simon Muderack was equally defiant about the club’s future.
“To be blunt, we’re not going anywhere,” he said.
Central to Scarlets’ frustration is the fact that both they and Ospreys have avoided administration, while Cardiff and Dragons have already been given assurances that they will continue under the proposed three-team structure.
Muderack questioned how that situation could leave the two West Wales sides facing the greatest uncertainty.
“I don’t really see how not going bankrupt can get you penalised. I struggle with that. It doesn’t sit well with me.
“And I don’t see how being the only holders of the main domestic league titles can get you penalised, either.”
There has inevitably been speculation about whether Scarlets and Ospreys could eventually be brought together in some form, with the two organisations having previously come close to a merger.
Muderack refused to completely rule out that possibility but dismissed the idea of creating an entirely new West Wales team.
“I would never say never,” he said.
“But I think the world has moved on from that. And what I certainly don’t think makes any sense at all is a new franchise. Along the lines of a West Wales Warriors.”
Davies believes decisions affecting the future of the professional game are being made from an “ivory tower”, while Scarlets say there has been little direct communication with them during the current process.
Muderack said the club’s “primary communication mechanism at this point has been the public domain”.
Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels also highlighted the difficulty the uncertainty is creating when dealing with supporters and commercial partners.
“It’s very difficult to have a straight story for our fans, for our sponsors, and our community,” he said.
Daniels believes any discussion about restructuring should begin from a different starting point.
“Welsh rugby is in a tough place. Not just because of decisions made yesterday, but because of decisions made 10 years ago,” he said.
“And it might take another 10 years to get out of it.
“But it has to start with an open and honest conversation about what the real position is. And that conversation has to start with: ‘What do we have to do to keep four teams?’”
