Reddin urges fans to focus on WRU changes to the pathway

DAVE Reddin says people should focus on the Welsh Rugby Union's plans to improve the academies and pathways as much as the number of professional teams.

- STEFFAN THOMAS Rugby reporter steffanthomas@reachplccom

The WRU’s director of rugby and elite performance has come under fire for coming up with a plan to reduce the number of professional teams from four to three with one based in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west.

‘There is also huge resistance to the WRU's plans for significant central control at the remaining three teams while still demanding benefactor contributions.

But Reddin is adamant the changes he is proposing to the pathway in Wales pay dividends in the long-run.

“But the reality is in either a three or a two you can make it work with the talent pool that we've got,” he told The Good, The Bad and ‘The Rugby podcast.

“At the moment the talent pool in Wales means that filling three teams with top talent is going to be tricky hence it comes onto the next level of what we are putting in place which is really big investment into a national academy.

“That's a sort of extra investment in coaching and support staff who work with a really elite group of 30 players.

“We are also then cutting the talent pool for which the wider group is focused on.