Long Term Revival?

By Zippy
March 7 2005

I take a look at the current success of the Welsh side and ask the question Is The Success Of The National Side Hiding Problems Underneath? For details read on.

Is The Success Of The National Side Hiding Problems Underneath?

 

I’ve watched the re-emergence of the national side as a world force over the autumn and the current 6 nations and have been as pleased (sorry ecstatic) as any other Welshman with the success they have achieved.

 

Its brilliant to see and I would love them to get the Grand Slam and end the decades of hurt suffered by the best fans in the world, and its very possible.

 

I got thinking, is this team a one off blip? Will the revival be able to withstand the test of time? In a few years time will Wales be a top 5 world side. Will we challenge the Southern Hemisphere sides away from home?

 

I had many doubts in my mind, the elite players in Wales are treated like gold and could not want for better facilities and thanks to Andrew Hore are fitter than any Welsh side has ever been.

 

But is the structure underneath the national side undermining the whole revival?

 

Its commonly agreed by everyone that the Celtic League is a joke, next season it will be a little better with the Irish taking it seriously but as proved again by the attendances this season unless its Welsh vs Welsh the rugby supporting public just are not interested.

 

So after the 6 Nations finish our players will return to play in some Celtic Cup which the winner gets……… well nothing, where is the incentive?

Our top players only competitive rugby comes from the Heineken Cup, where most will play just 6 games, the Celtic League serves only to keep them in shape.

 

Maybe this is what the WRU wants? The top players playing limited 1^st class rugby so they are fit and ready come international time.

 

That’s fine……….Short term, long term supporters will stay away and unless the WRU is in a position to fund the whole pro game in Wales (The benefactors are already starting to walk away) the regions will die.

 

And what about the youngsters?

 

4 pro sides has also meant many of the top young players are struggling to get 1^st Class rugby on a regular basis, many of them have been thrown in during the international period and expected to get on with it.

 

Is this stunting their growth? With their opportunities limited will they start to look overseas?

 

And these are the lucky ones, the others ply their trade in the semi-pro/amateur Welsh Premiership, full of old the classic team names but with none of the stars. These players have to supplement rugby with a work life and because of this many will find it tough to bridge the gap.

What is the answer?

 

Ask any Welshman and he will give you a different answer – British League, Return to Club Structure, Anglo Welsh League etc

 

Very few will say the Celtic League is the answer.

 

Conclusion

 

To summarise, I find it worrying that the national sides success could be masking some real problems under the surface of Welsh Rugby.

Something needs to be done to stop the rut in the professional club scene as Wales needs a thriving club scene will mean the national side is able to sustain its revival.

What are your thoughts? Agree with me? Disagree with me?

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