Is the WRU Blind?

Last week there was much excitement in Wales with the announcement that the WRU has granted 12 professional women 15s contracts. This move was, at least partly, in response to a 4000 strong petition by the Welsh public demanding improvements to the talent pathway for Welsh women. It is hardly surprising that there was a limit to how long the Welsh public were prepared to tolerate their female players being the winless whipping girls of the six nations. Especially following the recent internationals where England and France women were both very impressive with big wins over the reigning world champions. Unless there is significant change the Welsh women are likely to be humiliated and, yet again, finish the six nations without a single win!

It seems to be generally accepted by those who know much more about it than I do that the WRU’s handling of professionalism was pretty much a complete disaster. It is alleged that they emasculated the welsh domestic club game and tried to replace it with a ‘regional’ structure. These regions have failed to generate the desired support and TV revenues which might enable them to compete on level terms with the Irish and English clubs and provinces.  A look at the map clearly shows that, like with football, top level sport really requires a ‘National’ i.e. British league. The early days of professionalism gave the unions the opportunity to forge such a league. Blinded by the historic strength of Welsh rugby in the amateur days Welsh rugby demanded too large a slice of the GB Rugby pie. A battle they were never going to win in the face of the much larger population and higher revenues available in England.

However the WRU have an opportunity to help create the GB league in the womens game which they missed with the men’s game. The obstacle in the men’s game is that it would be a zero sum game. That is drafting one or more Welsh teams into the Premiership would involve dropping one or more of the established English teams from the Premiership and as the existing teams own the premiership they would demand substantial financial compensation. The value of which has already been established by the CVC deal. This would form the baseline from which compensation would be negotiated; how could the WRU, let alone the Welsh domestic game finance this? The existing Welsh teams left behind if even one or two Welsh regions were allowed to join the Premiership/GB competition would also demand some sort of financial compensation.  The Welsh would also have to accept the principal of relegation.  This would carry the risk that the successful team(s) could soon find themselves playing in the championship.  Although we can all talk about the benefits of a vibrant Anglo Welsh league the financial obstacles are very substantial.
There are however none of these obstacles facing the Women’s game.  The Premier15s league currently has only 10 member teams so expanding the league would be relatively simple at a time when the women’s game is growing organically with much improved exposure on TV and with the world cup on the horizon. The league is also owned by the RFU, simplifying negotiations; surely it can’t be too difficult for the two Unions to form and sponsor a jointly owned Anglo Welsh league. Provided of course that narrow minded nationalism isn’t allowed to interfere.  There would be no ‘losers’ in such a situation. A strong Premier 15s league involving 12 strong ‘clubs’ including say 2 Welsh based teams would not significantly disadvantage any of the major stakeholders. The English clubs would benefit from an expanded and more competitive womens league. Nationally the England Roses would benefit from a more competitive six nations which would strengthen them against their competitors in the southern hemisphere and across the channel. The new Welsh women’s clubs would of course need to be funded and resourced from within Wales. Even the WRU couldn’t reasonably expect the RFU to fund the Welsh domestic game.  Joint RFU – WRU ownership would mean that neither union would have complete control of the league which might upset some of the ‘blazers’.

A much stronger league where there are no losers – what’s not to like?

Having spent 50 years enjoying every Welsh defeat even I feel for my Welsh friends (I do have a few) at the repeated humiliation of their women. Remember the Welsh girl who had to fund her own medical bills after getting injured playing for Bristol Womens team? because the WRU didnt insure Welsh girls outside internationals.

Happy New Year
Ray