Former Stormer weighs in on Wales' URC decision

SPOTLIGHT: A former Stormers player has weighed in on the Welsh Rugby Union’s decision to cut its United Rugby Championship teams from four to three.

Jamie Roberts, who represented Wales 94 times and the British and Irish Lions on three occasions, has given his backing behind the WRU’s decision to cut down on its URC teams.

Roberts, who also represented the Stormers in Super Rugby on six occasions in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic shut all competitions down, said that he understands that it will be difficult for everyone involved, but an important step in getting Welsh Rugby back to its former glory.

“If we want to make change for the good, it’s going to be difficult for players, for fans, for all stakeholders in the game,” Roberts told WalesOnline in an exclusive interview.

The 38-year-old, who is a doctor by profession, also serves on the WRU board as a non-executive member and formed part of the decision makers who unanimously passed the plan through, stating that it had to be done.

“The last couple of months have been very busy,” Roberts said.

“A lot of information coming into the WRU board from the consultation process, which is a whole bible of information from all the stakeholders in the game in Wales.

“And I do think it was really important to involve everyone in that decision-making. But I guess it was a common theme across everything that people want change, right?

“We can’t continue doing what we’re doing and hoping we miraculously start winning at club and country level again.

“So, a medium to long-term decision has been made.”

The former Cardiff centre said that he is confident that he and the WRU board have made the right decision, and that it should be seen as an investment into getting Welsh Rugby’s structures and pathways for players back on track.

“I honestly think, you put all that information, qualitative, quantitative information, in front of any 10 people in Wales with a love for the game in Wales, they’d come to the same decision.

“And that’s the honesty of it. I’m confident we’ve made the right decision.

“Unfortunately, lost among the headlines of the four to three is a record investment in our pathway and a record investment in our academy, which is not only going to produce more players, but more players of higher quality.

“And I think that’s obviously important. That’s stating the obvious.

“But investing heavily in what’s coming underneath and concentrating the talent at the top of our game is ultimately what we’ve done.”

Source: WalesOnline