A deep dive into the troubled Welsh game

Things in life are perfect together: bacon and eggs, a beer on a Friday, and the relationship between Wales and the game of Rugby Union.

The country is synonymous with the game, and that love runs deep in Wales.

However, over recent years, the quality of the game has been declining.

Of course, people still flock to the Millennium Stadium to see Wales play, but it doesn’t have the same buzz around it.

Yet, it is high time for Wales to fall in love with all aspects of its national sport.

The fans’ support, passion, and unwavering dedication make the Welsh game what it is.

We need fans now more than ever to stand by the team during this transitional period.

Wales and Rugby Union

When you think of Wales, one of the first things that comes to mind is the game of Rugby Union.

The nation has a rich history of producing many great moments in the sport.

The passion of the fans and players is unmatched.

Every time a player puts on the famous red jersey, they give it their all.

Wales has produced some phenomenal talents over the decades.

In the 70s, Wales had key players like JPR Williams, Phil Bennett, and Gareth Edwards leading the team to three Grand Slams.

Fast forward the decades to the arrival of Warren Gatland, who produced one of the best teams in the world at the time.

It was a golden generation, with every position stacked with sensational talent.

Players like Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones, and Leigh Halfpenny led the charge to over a decade of success.

The team won multiple Six Nations, Grand Slams, and Triple Crowns.

They made it to the World Cup semifinals in 2011 and 2019.

Over the past decade, Wales has been spoiled by the amount of success they have relished.

The international side is going through a transitional period, and fans must be patient regarding the team’s development.

The Current State

Post the 2023 World Cup, it feels like a new era for the game.

Many new faces have donned the famous red jersey.

Players such as Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, and Cameron Winnett are all stepping up significantly.

The national side has yet to taste an international victory since the World Cup, and fans are desperate for that winning feeling again.

However, it is easy to forget that Gatland is working with a young side, which means development is key to Wales’ success.

Even though the results haven’t been great, certain players look very promising.

The first athlete to come to mind is Mason Grady, a tremendous physical presence in the backline. He could be sensational if given enough time to transition into an inside centre.

Another player that comes to mind is Ben Thomas, who impressed many people in Wales’ latest tour Down Under.

Thomas was the starting flyhalf throughout the mid-year tour but plays at No.12 for Cardiff, and you could argue that he was the best in that position last season.

Finally, Eddie James from Scarlets is quietly making a name for himself as a potential star for the future at the international level.

It comes back to the fact that you must let these players develop, and that takes time.

The fans must be patient and continue supporting these young talents as they grow and develop.

Club Level and Ignoring the Warning Signs

Long gone are the days of the four regions competing for titles.

It is safe to say that there has been a massive decline in the quality of club game across the nation.

The last time a Welsh team won the league was when Scarlets lifted the then Pro12 in 2017.

The regions have yet to come close to that level since. The teams have been towards the bottom of the league table and are struggling to get significant results.

A big reason for this is that a lack of money has meant the regions lost vital players who opted to play in the French and English leagues in favour of significant contracts.

Who can blame them?

It resulted in clubs relying on younger players.

However, the Ospreys had a great season under Toby Booth, where they made it into the playoffs last year.

This is a far cry from years gone by, and Welsh rugby fans will be hoping for a lot more in the years to come.

One thing is for sure: many drastic changes must be made.

The Ospreys reported losses of over two million early this year, and Scarlets seem to be in a similar boat.

This situation has been a long time coming, but success at an international level has papered over the cracks for nearly a decade.

Now, the nation is paying a hefty price; it is a domino effect because the regions aren’t competitive.

It was bound to catch up with Wales eventually.

There is a potential light at the end of the tunnel as Cardiff and Dragons are under new ownership.

Most of the young talent has chosen to stay in Wales.

Players re-signing is a massive deal because it will bring more eyes to the regions as they grow and become more well-known.

Only time will tell when it comes to improving the clubs, but the WRU needs to build a strong foundation at the club level.

Three Key Problems

The game in Wales needs a complete reboot, but three areas will make a quick impact if done correctly.

Changes need to be made across the board, and it will be a slow burn.

The first issue that comes to mind is the 25-cap rule.

This is when a player needs more than 25 international caps to represent Wales.

It used to be 60 before being almost halved to 25.

The idea behind the rule was that it would keep the big players competing for the regions.

It will always be challenging for a professional athlete, as they must weigh up financial rewards and representing their country.

Over the years, some high-profile players have chosen to go overseas rather than stay in Wales.

The first player to make waves by doing this was Rhys Webb, who moved to Toulon in 2018, in the prime of his career.

More recently, rising star Joe Hawkins decided to leave the Ospreys for the Exeter Chiefs last season.

It is easy to forget that a sportsperson’s career is short, and an athlete must maximise their earning potential.

The rule doesn’t have a massive impact on squad selection today, but it could be seismic in the future.

Now, the exception to the rule is that if a player hasn’t been offered a contract from a Welsh region, they can still play for the country.

This has meant that players like Jenkins can represent Wales.

However, when it comes to renegotiating for those players, if they don’t have 25 caps and choose to re-sign, Wales could lose a phenomenal crop of young talent.

If you look at South Africa, they allow top players to go abroad; an example of this is powerhouse lock RG Snyman, who plays his club rugby in Ireland.

Competing will undoubtedly help a player grow and gain experience rapidly.

Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn looks like a star since going to the Top 14 with Toulouse.

It goes back to the idea that a particular environment can unlock a different element in a player’s game.

Wales is a small country, so we should keep the player pool open.

Every prosperous nation in rugby has rock-solid foundations.

Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa have an excellent system for generating talent.

It all comes from playing rugby throughout the school years, which Wales has moved away from. In the past, they used to have the DRT School League, but the funding for the competition was scrapped in favour of an age-based system.

The main issue with the academies is that they can cause inactivity because they aren’t playing often enough.

They also don’t allow players to compete for local clubs and schools. Young players need as much playing time as possible to develop correctly.

Encouraging schools to have rugby programmes could increase the region’s player pool. It could also lower the cost for the clubs when developing youth talent. Looking at it from an international perspective, it could lead to a constant carousel of players if done correctly.

When thinking about grassroots clubs in Wales, history is abundant. Teams like Neath, Bridgend, and Pontypridd have a sensational pedigree.

The local game is different from the days of old, and that’s because nowhere near the number of supporters go to games on a Saturday. Back then, fans would flock to grounds like the Gnoll and the Brewery Field.

Of course, the regionalisation of the game didn’t help. Yet, there is an opportunity to build a sense of community when watching a game.

It could help develop players for regions, especially since we are heading into the first season of the new Super Rygbi Cymru.

Hopefully, it will bridge the gap between the semi-professional and professional game.

Wales Needs to Fall Back in Love

Wales is an exceptional rugby nation, and the Principality Stadium is the heart of the nation’s capital.

The Ospreys, Cardiff, Dragons, and Scarlets used to create a real buzz on the weekend.

Now, there is a struggle for people to watch Judgement Day.

Granted, a few years ago, watching club rugby before everything went behind the paywall was much more accessible.

The players are less well-known than the legends before them.

There must be growing concern that interest in games will decrease even more.

However, fans must get behind the national, regional, and local teams more than ever.

The game in Wales is at an all-time low, and fans must show support and patience while the game undergoes a transitional period.

By Peter Ryan
@rugby365com