This is interesting:

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/apr/03/geo...igns-for-northampton

Highlights: The WRU were right, Scarlets have been hawking North to all and sundry, but what they didn't tell us is that the reason is the chronically underfunded regions have been surviving on directors loans, and the directors now want their money back before the regions get taken over by the Welsh Union.

Ifyou cannot view this e-mail correctly, please click here

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF FOUR WELSH REGIONS

For immediate release Monday 1st April 2013 Issued on behalf of Scarlets

STATEMENT ISSUED ON BEHALF OF REGIONAL RUGBY WALES AND THE FOUR WELSH REGIONS

REGIONAL RUGBY WALES STATEMENT

The following statement is issued by Regional Rugby Wales on behalf of the four Welsh regions; the Scarlets, Ospreys, Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff Blues in response to the comments made by the WRU on

Sunday 31 st March 2013.

The four Welsh regions are united in expressing how staggered and bitterly disappointed they all are with the nature, intent and content of the public statement made by the WRU this morning on a number of issues affecting Welsh rugby.

As the governing body that should lead and set the standards and platform for the profile of the game in Wales, the regions are surprised at the WRU’s seemingly defensive reaction to some of the media reporting particularly given the success of yesterday’s Welsh derby double-header.

As a celebration of regional rugby that attracted close to 37,000 supporters of our game, it was a clear example of the benefits of a partnership approach between the four regions to create fresh opportunities to promote the regional game in Wales and enjoyed by both regional players and spectators.

There are a number of significant comments made within the WRU statement, that the four regions will now need to consider very seriously and with the appropriate amount of time and discussion before making a full and united response.

The Professional Regional Game Board (PRGB) was proposed to ensure that Welsh rugby had a joint collaborative body, with an independent chairman, with the remit and authority to find solutions for some of the issues affecting Welsh rugby.

Had the PRGB been implemented as originally agreed by the WRU, it would be addressing the exact issues that it has now raised in its statement including the important objective of how best to retain Welsh players like George North.

The four regions and WRU signed and agreed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2012 that outlined the creation of the PRGB. On the basis of this

agreement, the PRGB met once on December 17 th 2012.

The Regions have not changed or altered in any way their interpretation, understanding, intent or commitment to the agreements reached since the first proposals were made in May 2012.

The only queries raised subsequently, which have affected the establishment of the PRGB and the memorandum of understand signed by all five parties, have been made by the WRU which has in turn delayed the process.

The four Welsh regions have been committed and open in providing full and detailed information for the PwC report and its recommendations and have been consistent in their aims to work in partnership for successful establishment of the PRGB.

ENDS

For more information please contact Antonia Lamont on behalf of Regional Rugby Wales on 07974 421665 or email antonia@lamont-pr.co.uk.

Nerys Jones Communications Officer The Scarlets +44 7970 601597 +44 1554 783910 media@scarlets.co.uk

There's being rumours of North off to Northampton Saints for a while but I put it down to that as he's contracted for another season at least. Will be interesting to what happens next.

And the wru hit back this morning early. Its on the bbc sport site if anyone interested and/or wants to post it here.
The regions have recently secretly signed an agreement which precludes them from playing any players centrally contracted. The regions have also failed to engage with wru since report on regioal game was issued.
In addition scarlets have been trying to flog north to highest bidder for 2 seasons now initially without his knowledge.
Imo wru wud be better off buying out these businessmen and running the regions themselves. These guys seem to think that there is such a thing as a free supper.

The latest twist in the politics surrounding the battle between the wru and the regions owners for control of the regional game!

The regions owners have entered into talks with the PRL about exploring their options re leaving pro12 and joining aviva.Coincidence that it was announced on eve of judgement day( a wru initiative) i think not.

As it turned out judgement day was a success. Decent crowd of 36174 and two entertaining and wholehearted rugby games.

I then watched the leinster v ulster 2nd half which was also quality and got thinkin.
While the pro12 is much better quality than its given credit for it does have its flaws. Add in the challenge to its hec spots from Ap and top14 and it might be the right time to evolve.
My idea borrows greatly from the super 15 and nfl models. It would require the setting up of 4 conferences( irish, welsh, scots and italian). League wud continue in current round robin format( if italians and/ or scots added teams in future easy to change). At end of round robin top team in irish and welsh conferences to semi. Top italian and scots team have home advantage in qtrs v 2nd place irish and welsh teams. Winners to semis and home advantage decided by pts total or open draw. Hec positions decided by 6 teams to knockout stage of lge + 2 next best points total.(if 8 as assumed atm).

Trophy similar to 1872 cup could be awarded to winner of each conference. I believe this is introduced to super15 this season.

One critisism comes to mind. That is poss that team on higher pts may not qualifybecause of conference their in. This happened in super 15 last season when both 2nd placed teams in nz and sa conferences had more pts than aus winner. But for appeal of comp across all borders its a small compromise to make. Thoughts?

www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-...ions-91466-32541678/

Connacht being heavily referenced in the video discussion here. Sounds like like Dragons are getting Connachtised. Not good news for us as it reinforces the precedent.

Love to hear what o shea thinks of this

aparently its being doing the rounds for the last few days but the latest wru plan for the welsh regions is a major threat to the pro12 and the hec negotiations currently ongoing.

the plan leaked is for two super regions tipped to be the scarlets and cardiff who will recieve 6m a year each in funding to allow them compete at the top table in the hec. in exchange the wru will have irfu like access to the players etc. apparently they will return to using the names of cardiff and llanelli and withdraw from the principality championship.all home based welsh internationals will be contracted to them.

the other two regions will become development regions and recieve central funding of between 1.5 and 2m. the obvious question is why are the ospreys(4 time winners) being down graded. aparently the have a very poor relationship with the alickadoos i the wru and are suffering accordingly.

the alternative proposal is the scrapping of the dragons and the funding to the tune of 5m each to the other 3 under similar conditions but atm apparently the wru favour option a.

welsh rugby isnt boring off the field thats for sure. interesting times ahead.