I will use the well-worn Marketing 4 P’s principle to look at what I think is wrong with Welsh Rugby at present.
Product and Place.
In the newly expanded URC there are now 16 teams including four from South Africa and two Italian clubs. You do not play everyone home and away. The SA Teams have no identity namely Sharks, Stormers, Bulls and Lions.
The Main issue here is two-fold. You cannot build up brand loyalty at all due to the location of many of the away games plus the cash cow that is the Autumn Internationals.
An example of this is the Scarlets. Following a heavy home defeat to Leinster on 28/10/22 they only played one further home game (a cup match against a not bothered Bayonne) until 2023. During this period they played three away matched in South Africa. This was also the period of the Autumn Internationals so sides were severely depleted.
Price
The budget for the Welsh Regions is being slashed and has fallen way behind the England, Ireland and the worst culprit France. The modern squad is around 50 players but with the funding cuts we are looking at circa 37.
Every Welsh Club gets access to funding. This is contentious as there is little governance on how this is spent. In other words it is believed that funds are siphoned off to pay for players for Peter to stay above their local rivals Paul.
The bar to earn at least a part time living through Rugby in Wales is set very low indeed. Moderate players believe they should be paid for playing.
Promotion
The internationals are seen almost like a Bank Holiday in Wales but the grass roots game is dying of a death by several cuts. Crowds for the four regions are dwindling due to factors as above. There are other factors including Premiership Football.
Summary
The current league set up and more controversially, the European Cup are not fit for purpose. I honestly think they need to go back to the Club structure of old. Any player good enough can escalate and play in England or France.
The Crowds will return to a Welsh Premiership and local talent will continue to thrive.
