Fans and MP hit back over WRU funding shake-up

SCARLETS fans have criticised Welsh rugby bosses' planned funding shake-up, which has spread fears that one of Wales's four regions could be facing the axe.

- TOM COLEMAN AND GLEN WILLIAMS

On Saturday night our WalesOnline website reported that the WRU has informed the four Welsh regions that the number of teams in Wales needs to reduce to three following the failure of all four teams to agree to its proposed new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA).

Then on Sunday morning the WRU confirmed in a statement that it had triggered the two-year notice period on the current set-up and said the future landscape would not see four evenly funded teams.

The move comes after both the Swansea-based Ospreys and Llanelli's Scarlets refused to sign the new agreement following the Union's takeover of Cardiff with the Dragons having joined the capital club in signing the new PRA.

Now the Scarlets' official Supporters Trust has slammed the Welsh Rugby Union for its "lack of understanding for the sport it represents".