RADICAL SHAKE-UP OF WELSH RUGBY HIGHLY EMOTIVE

THE Welsh Rugby Union has recognised the "hurt and anger" caused by their proposal to reduce the number of professional men's sides in Wales from four to two, but insisted maintaining the status quo is not the "right thing" to do.

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Welsh rugby's governing body has produced a radical plan to turn around the the game at both club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a 90-page consultation document entitled "The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales'.

There will be a six-week consultation period before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans, and WRU chief executive Abi Tierney has urged people to "improve on the proposals" and provide "something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby".

The WRU's proposal to halve its number of four men's professional sides - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - to two will be the biggest talking point in a document which outlined four potential models for the game in Wales.

It remains unclear whether the two future sides being proposed will be new entities or existing teams, but the two organisations will each have a men's and women's team.