'We must be brave to secure future of our game'

JAMIE Roberts insists the decision made around the future of Welsh rugby has to be driven by data, but admits he understands the levels of emotion involved.

- TOM COLEMAN Sport reporter

The proposed move to cut the number of regions from four to three has become the central talking point in the debate around the future of the Welsh game, but Roberts says the union has to act on objective facts when deciding what's best.

Roberts, who has been a non-executive director on the WRU board for two years, appeared on Scrum V alongside Tom Shanklin and Alex Cuthbert to debate the proposed changes, and says he welcomes the opportunity to talk about decisions in a more public setting.

Indeed, he conceded that a greater level of transparency would be beneficial in helping the public understand the decisions made. But he said the current predicament Welsh rugby finds itself in has only further emphasised the need to be brave in their decision-making.

He also responded to suggestion Ospreys owners Y11 could be buying Cardiff imminently - a scenario that would dictate what the future landscape looks like in terms of teams.

Here's some of what was said on the Scrum V show, hosted by Lauren Salter.

Jamie Roberts: I'm happy to have these conversations because they need to be honest ones and ultimately I think in Welsh rugby at the minute we need to live in reality.

The situation we find ourselves in is the most challenging one facing Welsh rugby in two decades. Hands down, whether you agree with that or not, unfortunately the wrong records have tumbled for Welsh rugby.

I guess the big thing in the past couple of months is the four to three, and the heavy investment in the pathway. So I think when we're going through this period, if there's ever a time to make radical change in the game it's now. We need to be brave.