makemehappy says...

@Melkdave - there can be no doubt that Wales cannot sustain 4 teams in the manner it has. The finances just don't add up, and it will clearly strengthen the teams and the national sides. I do like the idea of having 2 secondary teams though, along the lines of Connaught in Ireland. These could be used to bring youngsters on (Pridie, Bevington etc should all have had much more game time). There will need to be an investment in bringing in some front 5 players to these teams from abroad so they don't get stuffed off the park, but such an idea has a lot of potential and makes much more financial sense.

Posted 18:50 18th April 2012

tombomb says...

@melkdave "I disagree that a welsh club should go as it dilutes the proffesional player base in Wales " how can concentrating talent from 4 club's to 3 club's dilute wale's player base? "and it will force some promising youngsters also to go elsewhere" yes the worst of the talent can go play in england and france. not the other way around."The big problem is the flawed Pro12 where im afraid alot of matches are meaningless with automatic HC qualification and no relegation, and are thus unappealing for fans to watch." well the Irish club's have high gate numbers probably because like scarlet's play an entertaining brand of rugby and also make it more of an occasion e.g. family day's,women's night et cetera. the point i want to make is why would a welsh club invest money and resources into developing talent then as soon as the player become's international class he leave's the club. the club would be far better off to heir load's of cheap south African's like Saracen's lol.

Posted 03:13 18th April 2012

melkdave says...

@Tombomb

I disagree that a welsh club should go ,as it dilutes the proffesional player base in Wales and it will force some promising youngsters also to go elsewhere most probibly England to achive their dream of being proffesional players .I do think the time has come though for central contracts but the WRU is known to be scrooges where spending money is concered hence no welsh A team .The big problem is the flawed Pro12 where im afraid alot of matches are meaningless with automatic HC qualification and no relegation, and are thus unappealing for fans to watch.These are the clubs bread and butter games and atm attendances are falling this needs to change asap imo to genarate income for the clubs

Posted 12:37 17th April 2012

tombomb says...

it's a real shame what's happening at the welsh club's bad for the pro 12 and European rugby. The WRU should have foreseen this and gone whit central contract's year's ago too keep the top welsh player's playing in wales also i think it's about time they scrapped one of there club's preferably the dragons and the use that money on the other club's to keep more of there player's

Posted 21:41 16th April 2012

melkdave says...

If true a big loss for the Blues ,but you cant really blame a player for going if he can set himself up financally for after his rugby career is over .After all its a short career 10-12 years max and for a winger maybe less.As to why his contract wasnt amended last year ,well he was just a promising young talant then and not a international class winger .Also team budgets are set around April/May time so most probibly no money to amend it .The only reason Roberts hasnt gone is because of his medical studies im sure his had big offers .But he wants to qualify as a doctor asap .His thinking about after rugby already Once his qualified im sure he too will go for a big money move ,after all we would

Posted 16:34 16th April 2012