WRU must retain branding and nod to the past in new structure or face losing fans

IT HAS now been five days since the Welsh Rugby Union announced its “optimal structure” for the professional game in Wales.

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On reflection, there is one sentence uttered by Dave Reddin which stood out. “We are asking people to let go of the past and the present and imagine a completely different future,’ said the WRU’s new director of rugby and elite performance.

But the problem is, Welsh rugby's future has to be shaped by the past - or the WRU will risk alienating its entire supporter base.

Reddin’s standpoint is understandable given he has come in from the outside with no baggage or any prior emotional attachment to Welsh rugby.

It is very clear the professional game needs a radical overhaul and proposing such a dramatic change is anything but a knee-jerk reaction.

It is a response to over a decade of systemic failures within the Welsh game, which is mostly down to the WRU itself and its neglect of everything underneath the men’s national team.

Retaining the same structure would be ludicrous and unfortunately a reduction in teams is necessary, no matter how upsetting it is to some.

‘There is not enough money or talent to sustain four strong teams any longer. Resources are spread far too thinly with four sides.

It is also worth noting a large chunk of money will quite rightly be spent on the women’s game, but of course this means the professional men’s game has to take a smaller slice of the pie.