Union launches consultation on two-club model with new national campus and funding shake-up

THE WELSH RUGBY UNION has gone public with a bold plan to slash the number of professional teams in Wales from four to two, in what it describes as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reshape the game.

At a press conference held at the Principality Stadium on Wednesday (Aug 20), WRU leaders set out their vision for the future of Welsh rugby, unveiling proposals to merge the professional structure into just two clubs — each running a men’s and a women’s team — backed by a new national performance campus and a radically altered funding model.

Chief executive Abi Tierney said: “We know how emotional rugby is and that people will be hurting when thinking about what this could mean for their team. Not everyone is going to be happy but I don’t think carrying on as we are is the right thing for fans either. We had to do something radically different to get us to a better place.”

Two-team model

Under the optimal scenario presented, Wales would be left with two fully professional clubs, each running a men’s squad of 50 and a women’s squad of 40. Playing budgets for the men’s teams would be set at between £7.8m and £8m, with a strict focus on developing Welsh-qualified talent. Only four overseas players would be permitted across the two sides.

Director of Rugby and Elite Performance Dave Reddin said the move was designed to put Wales back at the top of the international game. “This is unashamedly about trying to take Welsh rugby back to the top. It’s about designing for elite performance and making talent outperform its capacity,” he said. “Why shouldn’t we believe Wales could be wildcard World Cup winners with the right system?”

Five pillars of reform

The WRU’s restructuring is built around five pillars:

• Two professional clubs (one men’s, one women’s at each location) designed to compete at the highest level.
• A new national performance campus to centralise training for elite players and staff.
• Replacement of the Professional Rugby Agreement with a unified management structure to cut friction and speed up decision-making.
• A central funding model, with the WRU paying rugby costs while private investors run clubs commercially under licence.
• Major investment in player pathways, including an expanded women’s domestic league, enhanced academies and improved coaching opportunities.

The union confirmed that existing academies will be scrapped and replaced by a single men’s national academy, alongside a new development system for women.

Consultation begins

The consultation period will begin on September 1 and close on September 26, with the WRU engaging Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, the Welsh Rugby Players Association, former and current players, and official supporter groups. An online survey will also open to the wider public.

Chairman Richard Collier-Keywood said: “Every player and fan story starts somewhere. We will be listening to views from grassroots through pathways to elite level. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get this right and create an exciting future for our game.”

A recommendations report will go before the WRU board in mid-October, with a final decision expected at the end of that month.

Ospreys respond

The Ospreys, one of the four current professional clubs, have already issued a statement in response, acknowledging that some of the ideas outlined by the WRU hold “real potential”.

Women’s game overhaul

The plans also include a major expansion of the women’s game, with the two professional women’s teams backed by a national academy, new player development centres, and the creation of a domestic league to strengthen the Celtic Challenge.

Financial shake-up

Perhaps the most radical shift lies in the financial model. The WRU would directly fund all rugby operations in the two professional clubs, while commercial operations would be handled by private owners and investors under licence. The union believes this will improve alignment and stability across the game.

The road ahead

While the two-team model is the WRU’s preferred solution, other scenarios remain under discussion, including a three-team structure or retaining four sides with unequal funding. The union insists no final decision has been made until the consultation is complete.

As Tierney summed up: “This consultation is about listening. Every voice matters. We must work together if we are to create the future Welsh rugby deserves.”