The WRU is continuing it’s review into the Welsh regions, with many predicting an overhaul (including many on our Welsh Rugby Forum, with some suggesting the Dragons and potentially the Ospreys could be development regions). The regions have been pressing for extra money for each person in the Welsh squads.
Paul Tito Warns Welsh Regions "Heading for a Crash"
This blog has long been in favour of such a move, rewarding the regions actually producing (and losing) International players, allowing them to subsidise the fees and have adequate replacements for when they are on international duty. Now Paul Tito has added his feelings on the matter.
Paul Tito
The Cardiff Blues 2nd row feels that without teams getting adequate remuneration for their Welsh stars being absent, the regional game in Wales could be heading for a huge crash.
He bemoans the Welsh players having little time with the region, and how inadequate funding is leading to the few World Class players at the regions being forced to move on, players such as Casey Lualala who will be moving to Ireland next season, taking up a contract with Munster.
“It’s a bit of a mess at the moment, isn’t it? They’re [the regions] having talks with the WRU to pay for the top 22 [Wales players],” Tito said.
“It’s got to happen otherwise the regions are going to crash and burn.”
“They’re paying these boys all year round and we don’t really see them too much,” lock Tito said.
“Something has got to happen otherwise the regions are going to struggle.
“At the moment it’s not working because the regions are crying poor and the Welsh Rugby Union have got a fair bit of dough at the moment.
“It’s just a balancing act and they haven’t got it right at the moment, they need to change it.
“Maybe a little bit like the Irish. I think they contract the top 22 or 25 and they [the Irish Rugby Football Union] pay them.”
“You don’t have too many world-class players in your teams these days and we’ve got about three, and a couple of them are off contract and one’s already gone,” Tito added.
“It’s pretty sad to lose your playmaker in the backline really, because it makes life fairly difficult.”
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