One thing really doesn't add up in WRU's plan as money men could walk away

The WRU’s 'optimal structure' hinges on the continued involvement of the game's generous benefactors, says Steffan Thomas

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SINCE rugby union turned professional in 1995, the game in Wales and England has been largely propped up by wealthy benefactors.

Yes, in many ways, it is a flawed system because it is not sustainable in perpetuity, but without the likes of Peter Thomas, Rob Davies, Mike Cuddy, Huw Evans and Tony Brown, among many others, there may not have been any professional rugby in Wales.

But while the Welsh Rugby Union looks to create a radically different structure for the professional game based on central control, the reliance on benefactor contributions is still present.

The WRU begins its formal consultation process this week where the governing body will hope to push through its “optimal structure” as it looks to radically restructure the professional game.

For the avoidance of any doubt, the “optimal structure” includes a reduction from four to two professional clubs with significantly greater central control on rugby operations.

Despite this, the WRU requires private investment amounting to a total of £17m over a period of five years if it is successful in pushing through the two-team scenario.

This is potentially very problematic because the WRU wants total control over the rugby operations at both teams with the funding directors in charge of the commercial arm of the operation.

A potential spanner in the works is the WRU could look to create two new entities, either through mergers or creating completely different teams.

Many of the current funding directors have been around for years and only pump money into the four current teams - Cardiff are exempt because they are in temporary union ownership because they have an emotional attachment to those teams.