FUTURE OF WELSH RUGBY IS ON THE LINE AS TALKS BEHIND SCENES REACH CRITICAL STAGE

THE future direction of Welsh rugby will be shaped this summer.

- By STEFFAN THOMAS Rugby correspondent

That is no exaggeration. Wales effectively has two choices: it can limp on as it is and consign itself to a future of mediocrity at best or it can radically change the structure of the game in this country to give itself the best chance of sustained success.

The penny has dropped with the Welsh Rugby Union and the Professional Rugby Board are working very hard behind the scenes to come up with a solution.

The problems do not need another in-depth explanation.

The men's national team have lost their previous 17 Test matches a tier one record - and the four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - have struggled to attain any sort of sustained success.

Something has to change and things cannot go on as they are.

When the men's national side struggles it has a negative knock-on effect on the whole of Welsh rugby from a financial sense.

Yes, there are some talented youngsters in the current Wales squad who will get better, while there are some potentially outstanding players emerging from the pathway, but the WRU needs to produce the optimum structure to give them the best chance of developing.

Currently Wales' talent is spread too thinly across four professional clubs, while there are also a plethora of Welsh-qualified players in England.

During the 2024/25 season, the Welsh clubs were operating from a salary cap of £4.5m, although that will rise next season at Cardiff and the Dragons who have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement.

The Gallagher Premiership salary cap this season was £6.4m which can rise to as high as £7.8m with home-grown player credits, international player credits and extra money for injury dispensation, while they are permitted one marquee player above the cap.

In Ireland, Leinster have been significantly more well-resourced than the other three provinces - Connacht, Munster and Ulster - although this gap is closing next season.