Project Reunion @WelshRugbyUnity

A must-read for Welsh rugby fans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 An important subject right now. Really well dealt with. Thought-provoking and funny in equal measure. 👍 Pepperami 😂

Paul Williams @thepaulwilliams

2 days ago

A must-read for Welsh rugby fans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 An important subject right now. Really well dealt with. Thought-provoking and funny in equal measure. 👍 Pepperami 😂

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It's the first day of the WRU consultation process. Here are some thoughts about tribalism - posted in the hope that clubs and fans will be open-minded about the best way forward. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Please REPOST if you think the answer is for us to work together more effectively. 🙏

“…regional identities have to be far enough removed from their club roots to embrace support from the wider catchment areas they are supposed to represent…” Spot on from Nick Bishop 👍 rugbypass.com/plus/why-a-two…

Rygbi Gogledd Cymru have urged the Welsh Rugby Union not to forget the north in its radical plans for the professional game 🏉 #BBCRugby

@DragonWales9 I feel the tribalism and I love it. But I don't want some clubs & communities receiving preferential treatment at the expense of others who are being badly damaged. This hurts the overall system - and it hurts everyone. The old tribalism belongs at semi-pro level.

@thepaulwilliams Pro sport is all about winning. But you're more likely to keep winning over long periods if... 1) You have a massive fanbase (financial sustainability). 2) You keep bringing through players who would bleed for the shirt/badge. Representation helps massively in both areas 👍

Do Tierney, RCK & Reddin lack understanding when it comes to Welsh rugby culture? Or do they correctly understand that far too many fans are stuck in the petty tribalism of small amateur era clubs that are totally unsuitable for the pro era? How do people still not get this?!

WalesOnline Rugby @WalesRugby

2 weeks ago

Do Tierney, RCK & Reddin lack understanding when it comes to Welsh rugby culture? Or do they correctly understand that far too many fans are stuck in the petty tribalism of small amateur era clubs that are totally unsuitable for the pro era? How do people still not get this?!

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@TheVietGwent Wow, absolutely fantastic from @JonFoxDavies. He gets it. Just like @Coombs_A, Warburton, JPR, Gwyn Jones, Paul Thorburn etc 2 massive new super-regions - underpinned by all the old historic clubs back together and battling it out at semi-pro level 🙌

@Oweninsouts Is it "just like" that though? Most rugby fans in the valleys don't want to support Cardiff because - it's a historic rival club - that doesn't include them. An East Wales team - WOULD include Cardiff AND the valleys - and ISN'T a historic rival. It's a far better option 👍

It wasn't just Warburton. So many have suggested this... @Coombs_A, JPR, Gwyn Jones, Paul Thorburn, Mark Ring, Alun Carter, Nick Bishop, @sjamesjourno, @andyhowellsport, Nick Williams, @TommyBowe, Martyn Ryan, @LeeJarvis10, @davidflatman etc Time for more people to speak up 🙏

WalesOnline Rugby @WalesRugby

2 weeks ago

It wasn't just Warburton. So many have suggested this... @Coombs_A, JPR, Gwyn Jones, Paul Thorburn, Mark Ring, Alun Carter, Nick Bishop, @sjamesjourno, @andyhowellsport, Nick Williams, @TommyBowe, Martyn Ryan, @LeeJarvis10, @davidflatman etc Time for more people to speak up 🙏

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Sadly, Welsh rugby is seriously broken - and there's no way of fixing it without significant sacrifice. Really hope enough people care sufficiently about Welsh rugby to be open-minded about this restructuring. Time to correct the mistakes of 2003-04 and work together properly. 🙏

WalesOnline Rugby @WalesRugby

2 weeks ago

Sadly, Welsh rugby is seriously broken - and there's no way of fixing it without significant sacrifice. Really hope enough people care sufficiently about Welsh rugby to be open-minded about this restructuring. Time to correct the mistakes of 2003-04 and work together properly. 🙏

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Gwent has made a phenomenal contribution to Welsh rugby over the course of our history - and it must continue to have representation at professional level. But we can now only support 2 pro teams in South Wales - and so Gwent needs to form part of a wider EAST WALES team...

WalesOnline Rugby @WalesRugby

3 weeks ago

Gwent has made a phenomenal contribution to Welsh rugby over the course of our history - and it must continue to have representation at professional level. But we can now only support 2 pro teams in South Wales - and so Gwent needs to form part of a wider EAST WALES team... https://t.co/6MEHNI7xKF

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@thepaulwilliams If, by "that Welsh team", you mean a proposed true regional side like West Wales or East Wales - then yes, the idea of supporting an English team instead is insane and petulant beyond belief. Why won't Welsh people work together?! Petty tribalism is killing the game here.

@TheVietGwent He's undeniably a great bloke and Llanelli club heritage is incredibly important. But same goes for Swansea, Neath, Aberavon, Bridgend, Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Newport etc. And they've all stepped down to semi-pro level. It's time for Llanelli & Cardiff to do the same.

EAST Wales v WEST Wales U20 Trial Match 2011 Players from the Scarlets & Ospreys pathways/territories (merged together as West Wales) going up against players from the Cardiff & Dragons pathways/territories (merged together as East Wales).

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@TheWelshDragon9 Agree completely. The greed and self-interest in Welsh rugby is utterly mind-blowing. Far too many people still fighting for their small patch, no matter how much it damages other parts of Welsh rugby. We'll never have sustainable success until we learn to work together.

"In an ideal world as far as the WRU is concerned both the Dragons and Cardiff, along with the Ospreys and Scarlets, would voluntarily merge." ^ Totally understand that this would be difficult for some, but it would clearly be in the best interests of Welsh rugby as a whole. 👍

WalesOnline Rugby @WalesRugby

a month ago

"In an ideal world as far as the WRU is concerned both the Dragons and Cardiff, along with the Ospreys and Scarlets, would voluntarily merge." ^ Totally understand that this would be difficult for some, but it would clearly be in the best interests of Welsh rugby as a whole. 👍

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EAST Wales v WEST Wales Welsh Schools' Rugby Union 2000 Some big names in those teams! No doubt all very proud to represent large regional areas like East Wales and West Wales.

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"That's not to say they will be called 'East' and 'West' because the branding of a couple of the existing clubs will likely remain at the request of the funding directors who the WRU will need." Wouldn't it be foolish to massively limit ticket & merch sales with toxic branding?!

WalesOnline Rugby @WalesRugby

2 months ago

"That's not to say they will be called 'East' and 'West' because the branding of a couple of the existing clubs will likely remain at the request of the funding directors who the WRU will need." Wouldn't it be foolish to massively limit ticket & merch sales with toxic branding?!

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It's been absolutely obvious for years now that a restructuring of the domestic pro game is needed. We don't have the players or money for 4 pro teams - and our failure to set up a true regional system that includes ALL OF WALES has been a utter disgrace and an embarrassment.

Welsh Rugby Union 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @WelshRugbyUnion

2 months ago

It's been absolutely obvious for years now that a restructuring of the domestic pro game is needed. We don't have the players or money for 4 pro teams - and our failure to set up a true regional system that includes ALL OF WALES has been a utter disgrace and an embarrassment.

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