If the game is going to be preserved as a major pillar of life in Wales, the arguing has to stop, right now. The WRU is about to choose a director of rugby and a new head coach for the men’s national team, and an agreement on funding the regions is overdue.
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My predicted Lions XV to face Australia after the Six Nations
Read MoreThe regions – now generally described as the “pro clubs” – and the WRU together should tot up the pot of money available in the Welsh game and go on a public roadshow to show a 10-year plan for professional rugby.
Wales were beaten 68-14 by England in Cardiff on Saturday and it was as insipidly awful a performance as the 96-13 hammering at the hands of the Springboks I witnessed in South Africa in 1998. On that occasion, a tabloid newspaper illustrated my match report with a gravestone engraved with “RIP Welsh rugby”.
Great players such as Alun Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton emerged through the “pathways” – a euphemism for the ecosystem of families, schools, academies and love and understanding of the game to bring through the talent.
There isn’t the room or the need here to go through all the alleged mistakes made in those pathways in recent years.
If the plan is to stop talented Welsh youngsters learning their trade at better-funded English schools and academies and better-paying English and French clubs, show a plan to make it happen – currently, eight of the Wales 23 play outside of the country.
"Something has to change"
Sam Warburton has had his say on what needs to happen to bring good times back to Wales.#SixNations #BBCRugby #RugbySpecial pic.twitter.com/TMTvDtdCSK
It is undeniably tough when matters such as international and cross-border competitions are mostly out of Welsh hands, but they have to make projections.
Either find a person to represent them on that stage, with a cogent argument and ultimately agreement, or let go of their grip and allow a two-tier system of professional and amateur to take over, as they are currently pondering in England.
The one thing all these people – and never forget they are people, ultimately, behind the brand names and institutions – must stop doing is tearing each other apart.
Because, as my Welsh relatives might say, I’ve had a gutsful of these arguments since rugby went open in 1995.
Wales team vs England
15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 7 caps) 14. Ellis Mee (Scarlets – 2 cap) 13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 7 caps) 12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 11 caps) 11. Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 4 caps) 10. Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby – 41 caps) 9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 63 caps) 1. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 53 caps) 2. Elliot Dee (Dragons – 55 caps) 3. WillGriff John (Sale Sharks – 4 caps) 4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 40 caps) 5. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 22 caps) 6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 56 caps) 7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 22 caps) – Captain 8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 107 caps)Replacements
16. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 19 caps) 17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 39 caps) 18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps) 19. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 5 caps) 20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 26 caps) 21. Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 8 caps) 22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 10 caps) 23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 40 caps)The clash between the statutory role of a governing body and the private investors who see altruistic and personal value in putting cash into the game needs to be properly resolved.
The three pro clubs meanwhile would hothouse the best talent, with the hope of being competitive again in the United Rugby Championship and Europe.
Obviously, that needs paying for, and the environment for them to come to needs improving. Buttress says even facilities like the national training centre at The Vale are “tired”.
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England begin to deliver on Borthwick's promises - but I still have my doubts
Read MoreCardiff Arms Park was rocking on Friday night, with 8,500 spectators revelling in a well-coached Wales Under-20 team (including Dragons tyro Jack Woods) taking down England’s world champions.
The job of Wales’ head coach is a cracking one for someone believing the only way is up from a world ranking of 12th, and that a new golden generation of players can be created who, excitingly, would be standard-bearers with a nation behind them and all their teams.
An hour earlier, fans had streamed through the exits well ahead of England’s embarrassingly easy 10th and final try.
The evidence of England supporters snapping up tickets returned from Welsh clubs is people are shying away from buying those seats.
Welsh rugby is weeping, even as it faces the biggest few months since the seismic events of 1995 and 2003.
They need to wipe away the tears, appreciate they have a common bond, and go forward together – or risk losing the public and the game for good.
Hence then, the article about welsh rugby is in a right old mess but it can be saved with a little sanity was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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