Regions accuse WRU of trying to starve professional game as Welsh rugby crisis ...

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THE bosses of the four Welsh regions have claimed the Welsh Rugby Union are attempting to starve its professional sides “to the point of financial ruin” as the crisis gripping the game deepens.

With talks about the future of Welsh domestic rugby having broken down once again, the Scarlets, Ospreys, Blues and Dragons are readying themselves to go it alone without any central funding from the governing body.

Regional Rugby Wales (RRW) last week issued a statement condemning the ‘tortuous’ negotiation process that has gone on in recent months.

And in a letter written by the regions’ chairmen — Roger Blyth (Ospreys), Nigel Short (Scarlets), Peter Thomas (Blues) and Martyn Hazell (Dragons) — to WRU chief executive Roger Lewis and chairman David Pickering, the extent of the crisis was made crystal clear.

It said: “We have been negotiating with the WRU for a very considerable period, but have to come to the conclusion that, despite public protestations to the contrary, the harsh reality is that the WRU has no interest in concluding negotiations with the regions and entering into a long-term agreement for the betterment of Welsh rugby.”

It went on: “It seems to us that the state of relationships between the governing body and its principal clubs is a national disgrace and a sad indictment on Welsh rugby . . . it appears to us that our relationship is at an all-time low and that the objective of the WRU is actually to ‘starve’ the regions to the point of financial ruin.”

It appeared the parties were making some headway last week when RRW sent their terms of the new Rugby Services Agreement to the WRU.

It is understood that following a meeting with Wales head coach Warren Gatland, the regions were happy with the rugby side of the agreement.

But the WRU then returned the paperwork with a number of amendments regarding funding issues and that prompted RRW to release their statement on Friday afternoon.

In the letter, the regions revealed they had offered the WRU the opportunity to take over all four sides — something the governing body are reluctant to do.

It also stated that the regions were prepared to accept terms of for the ‘dual contracting’ of some star players as well as ring-fenced funding of £6.7 million.

They also set a deadline of Friday, July 18 for the negotiations to be wrapped up.

The only Wales international to have signed a central contract with the union is Sam Warburton, who is facing a season without a side to play for if the current impasse continues.

And Gatland will be without any regional player for the controversial fourth November international against South Africa if the threats are carried out.

The regions could also block their players competing in Wales’s Commonwealth Games sevens team later this month and prevent their Wales players being used for any WRU commercial activity.

The letter concluded: “The ball is now very firmly in the WRU court.

“There is no time for further procrastination or delay — we all firmly believe this is the very last chance to reach agreement and the timescale set out above is absolutely the last opportunity for resolution.

“We hope you can rise to the challenge for all our sakes and that of Welsh rugby in totality.”

Article source: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/quiet-man-borthwick-looks-to-bow-out-with-a-bang-9456203.html

Regions accuse WRU of trying to starve professional game as Welsh rugby crisis ...