Supporters Voice Fury Over WRU’s Plans to Reshape Welsh Rugby

Local TV Sport

Pressure is mounting on the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) as fans staged protests over plans to cut the number of professional clubs in Wales from four to just two.  Supporters from the Dragons and Scarlets regions came together at a pre-season friendly to voice their opposition, highlighting widespread frustration with the proposals. The protests are set to continue, with Scarlets fans planning a march from the site of the old Stradey Park posts to Parc y Scarlets ahead of the URC opener against Munster.

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00:00Dan Hallett, the chairman of the Dragons' official supporters club, stressed the importance

00:07of making the WIU aware of supporters' dissatisfaction.

00:11We will keep these protests going until the end of October, when we potentially could have

00:17the decision, he told the BBC.

00:19Hallett emphasised that fans are not just casual observers, but long-term standing supporters,

00:25some following the Dragons and Scarletts, for decades.

00:27He also questioned the figures behind the two-team model, pointing to what he described

00:33as years of chronic mismanagement by the WIU, including poor investment choices and a lack

00:40of accountability.

00:42Fan forums have shown little appetite for an East Wales franchise.

00:47Many supporters indicated they would rather watch community clubs to travel to see games

00:53across the Severn Bridge or stop financially supporting Welsh Rugby altogether.

00:58Every journey has various points at which the ship starts to turn a little bit, and certainly

01:05everybody here is motivated towards a different future than the past, the recent past that we've

01:10had.

01:12Steve is a really important part of that strategy.

01:14He isn't the strategy.

01:15He's a key part of it.

01:17But all of us here are about building the systems and the process and the ecosystem around

01:22Welsh Rugby that creates sustainable success, not just short-term success.

01:28The WIU has acknowledged the challenges posed by the proposals.

01:32Director of Rugby, Dave Reddin, suggested that feedback is being taken seriously, noting,

01:37I don't want to get ahead of myself or take any shortcuts, but I can confidently say that

01:43our thinking is changing in positive ways as we progress.

01:48The debate has sparked wider discussions about the future of Welsh Rugby.

01:53With the consultation period ongoing, the outcome will significantly influence the structure

01:58of the sport in Wales, potentially reshaping the identity and support base of the professional

02:05game.

02:05Fans remain resolute, determined that their voices will be heard before any final decisions

02:11are made.

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