Proposals to cut teams is part of Wales 'wildcard'

THE Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed its optimal solution for the professional game is a reduction from four to two teams and says it hopes it will result in Wales becoming "wildcard" World Cup winners.

- STEFFAN THOMAS Rugby correspondent

We exclusively revealed the WRU's preferred choice ahead of a formal consultation process that will begin on September 1.

The WRU outlined the two-team model in detail at a press conference yesterday, insisting something has to change and explaining why it thinks two teams is best.

Other scenarios and suggestions involving three clubs, either equally or unequally funded, or four unequally funded teams will also be listened to as part of the consultation before a final decision is made in October.

Director of rugby Dave Reddin said: "This is unashamedly about trying to take Welsh rugby back to the top of international rugby and club rugby.

"It's about trying to win. In that acknowledgement, it's possible to think short-term and throw all our resources into one thing.

"What we've tried to put together is something that is coherent and comprehensive.

"The headline is the number of men's clubs but that is only one of five interconnected pillars.

"The men's clubs is really around investing in elite excellence and financing two teams that are able to compete at the top level."

"This is about designing for elite performance and make talent outperform its capacity," said Reddin when asked whether Wales could become wildcard World Cup winners as a result of the potential optimal solution. "So why not?

In the optimal solution of two teams, each club will be made up of a men's team and a women's team while a new national campus is in the pipeline.

The WRU has not announced where these teams will be based or whether they will be two of the existing four professional clubs.

Both men's teams will have a squad size of 50 players each and playing budgets of between £7.8m-£8m, under the plan put forward by the union.