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The four professional sides of Wales must now consider whether the 2025-26 season will be their last one as they prepare for a new campaign.
Welsh rugby’s crisis is not unusual, but the start of this season is even more concerning even by its own chaotic standards.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has suggested reducing Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets’ futures from four to two professional clubs, which would put them in danger.
The WRU’s “optimal choice” is to reduce the number of professional teams, which is one of four options being considered.
The Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA) has warned the WRU that its recommendations for the elite game would “drive talent to leave Wales.”
Jac Morgan, the flanker for the Wales, British, and Irish Lions, has informed the WRU that he will leave the Ospreys’ professional domestic rugby team.
No definitive decision has been made, according to the governing body, which has been consulted by players, supporters, and stakeholders.
On the first day of the United Rugby Championship (URC) season, an open survey on Welsh rugby will close on Friday, with the official consultation process under way by the end of September.
By the end of October, just before Wales’ debut autumn international series under new head coach Steve Tandy, a final decision on the future of Welsh rugby is anticipated.
With uncertainty and anxiety affecting the new campaign’s preparations, the timing is unfortunate.
Jones’ “The what-ifs do infiltrate you”
Ospreys will play their home games at the Brewery Field in Bridgend this year after making the decision to leave Swansea.com Stadium. Then, St Helen’s will become a permanent facility after the 2026-27 season is over.
The Bulls will host the Lions on Saturday in the first match of Mark Jones’ side’s campaign in South Africa.
According to Jones, “There is always a lot going on and one thing I’ve learned is that we have to deal with it typically when it’s something that’s very close to home.”
Your staff and players become more resilient as a result.
I can’t praise the group enough for separating the two, despite their efforts to stay focused on the job and exert control over our roles as rugby players and coaches. They have been outstanding.
Jones claims to have done everything in his power to assist the squad in overcoming the problems.
“I’ve tried to handle situations in an open and honest manner, not by passing on issues that need to be addressed,” he continued. “I try to give as much clarity as I can from what I know,” he continued.
Everyone deserves to know the truth, or at least as much of it, because being honest sometimes is not what you want to hear.
Scarlets have not attempted to conceal uncertainty.
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On Saturday, Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel’s side will face Munster in Llanelli. His attitude is to take the off-field problems seriously.
You can’t hide from the game’s uncertainty, and we haven’t hid from it, said Peel.
Things are beyond our control as a result of the consultation, but we can only be as upfront and truthful with the information we have.
Because you can waste your time worrying about the uncertainty, we need the clarity of how we want to approach the season.
On Saturday, Scarlets fans will march before the game to show their support for the side’s future existence.
The main attraction of this club is that it is the heart of the neighborhood, and everything west of here is essentially Scarlets and the foundation on which it was built, added Peel.
Because it has always existed, I’m not surprised by the march, the feeling, and the love now.
They have always been there for this club in times of need, which is something I feel very strongly about.
Without the Scarlets, Peel claims, he can’t imagine Welsh rugby or the town of Llanelli.
He claimed that it has been a pivotal club and organization in this nation.
Never a dull day for Cardiff
Many people believe that Cardiff’s survival is secure because it was taken over by the WRU in April after going into administration.
Abi Tierney, the WRU’s executive director, acknowledged that she could not imagine a Cardiff absence from professional rugby.
The Blue and Blacks are now buried in uncertainty ahead of the new season despite these assurances.
They have an interim chief executive, and plans to transfer them to private ownership are pending until after the consultation.
After Matt Sherratt left to join Steve Tandy’s Wales backroom staff, they will also begin the season against Lions this weekend.
Josh Adams, a wing for Cardiff and Wales, is familiar with the chaos off-field.
There is never a dull day, Adams said, “We’ve always got to deal with something.”
Nothing new about it. Although there are some disruptions, a year without them would be nice.
We understand that change must occur, and we understand that this is a crucial time.
We must not spend our energy thinking about other things.
The club has spoken out against the proposed two-sided formation the most frequently in the region, saying that “Welsh rugby deserves better and the WRU must rethink.”
Chair David Wright claims that the Dragons couldn’t possibly come to terms with the initial proposals because they “don’t add up.”
Ben Carter, the co-captain of Wales and Ben Carter, acknowledges the concern but praises his team’s dedication to the rugby, which he describes as “the number one priority.”
Filo Tiatia, his team’s coach, is in agreement.
The former All Black remarked, “We’ll leave it with our chairman and CEO and they’ll fight the battle” when it comes to the WRU.
“With the current circumstances and our knowledge, what we can concentrate on is how we proceed.”
Tiatia will only concentrate on the opening weekend, like the other coaches.
He continued, “We just have to concentrate on Ulster in front of us.”
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- Dragons
- Welsh Rugby
- Scarlets
- Ospreys
- Wales Sport
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