THE regions and the Welsh Rugby Union remain on course to end their differences despite there no longer being an official agreement at the top of Welsh rugby.
The five-year participation deal between the two camps expired yesterday without a replacement being set in place. But hopes are high that the new Rugby Services Agreement will be signed sooner rather than later — “within a week or two”, a source said.
The financial package has all but been settled, with compromise appearing to have won the day and a figure of around £8.2 million set to be paid directly to the regions from the union each year.
That is more than £2 million shy of what they reportedly wanted to cover issues such as international player release and overseas player quotas, but it is £1.5 million more than they were getting under the old deal.
Key regional figures went into a meeting with Warren Gatland yesterday with a series of issues still to be sorted out, among them the possibility of reviving Gatland’s Law — the policy of Wales giving preferential selection treatment to players who stay with the regions.
However, it is thought such a move is only being deemed a starter in the medium term, presumably after the next World Cup.
The key to future progress is still being seen on the regions’ side as revamping the Pro12 by getting better TV deals and more lucrative sponsorship — or, indeed, any kind of sponsorship with the Rabo deal ending this summer.
They privately point out that it isn’t just Welsh rugby feeling financial pain, with Munster recently announcing an expected deficit of £600,000 euros (£480,000) for the financial year ending June 30 despite reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
MARK ORDERS
Article source: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Rugby-Union-Eccleshall-appoint-Steve-Dolphin-new/story-21291258-detail/story.html
Regions and Welsh Rugby Union set for peace at last
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