Welsh Rugby 2013/2014

[JB1973]

Nothing to do with the match(or has it?) but Dai Moffett has suddenly scarpered back to NZ and the EGM to oust Roger Lewis/make some noise/shakedown the WRU for cash now looks to be a pointless exercise. Moffett was challenging the WRU and had the backing of the RRW. Seems a new PA will be announced soon. Any idea what happened JB?

3 theories doing the rounds

1) the regions and the wru have an agreement set up so no need for him

2) he knows he has no chance and has chucked his toys out of the pram

3) "enevelopegate" is the most interesting rumore of all Moffat needed 50 votes to force an egm. He thought he had 52 votes as 52 envelopes were sent back to him however rumor has it that 13 clubs deliberately attempted sabotage by sending back empty envelopes to David Moffett, in the knowledge that a promise had been made not to open them until the requisite number had been reached.

Also the club who had promised to put him forward to speak at the meeting have reneged on that deal.


It really is silly season and no one can make head or tail of what has happened or is going to happen

Moffet to me is a self serving meddling trouble merchant who saw a chance to get his name in the papers and get himself a lucrative gig at the WRU, while masquerading as being the white knight of welsh rugby.

Once he knew he was going to lose he shot of back down under without even having the guts to give an interview or explain himself on twitter.

I dread to think what the reaction to this has been on the wru hating regional fans and gwald forums






This was to maintain anonymity for clubs that requested an EGM should there not have been enough support for it.

[ratpack]

How close is new participation agreement to being agreed JB?

Things seem to have settled a bit in the past few months and with Moffet legging it, it would appear one of the chief agitators is now absent.

[paddyor]

3) "enevelopegate" is the most interesting rumore of all Moffat needed 50 votes to force an egm. He thought he had 52 votes as 52 envelopes were sent back to him however rumor has it that 13 clubs deliberately attempted sabotage by sending back empty envelopes to David Moffett, in the knowledge that a promise had been made not to open them until the requisite number had been reached.

Keep us posted on the next episode of Game of Dragons!

[JB1973]

3) "enevelopegate" is the most interesting rumore of all Moffat needed 50 votes to force an egm. He thought he had 52 votes as 52 envelopes were sent back to him however rumor has it that 13 clubs deliberately attempted sabotage by sending back empty envelopes to David Moffett, in the knowledge that a promise had been made not to open them until the requisite number had been reached.

Keep us posted on the next episode of Game of Dragons!

Init!

Old George Martin has nothing on the intrigues of welsh rugby

[paddyor]

Game of dragons continues.....
Moffet shows up at EGM
[urlhttps://twitter.com/mrmikegriffiths/status/478112055615311872/photo/1]https://twitter.com/mrmikegriffiths/sta ... 72/photo/1[/url]

Full story here

This

Wales' four regions had joined 39 WRU member clubs who had backed Moffett's call for an EGM.

Followed by this

Regional Rugby Wales acting chief executive Mark Davies said they voted with the majority of clubs and in favour of the WRU board.

Davies, who is also Scarlets chief executive, added: "The context of a vote of no confidence...that is a question for the clubs.

"There are 320 clubs, there's only four regions so we're going to be led by the clubs at that point."

......WTF?

[JB1973]

well Moffatt attempt at a game of dragons type coup ended as well for him as poor old robb stark.

WRU EGM No confidence vote figures: 4 backed the motion, 462 were against it and 18 people abstained.

Now considering the regions had 4 votes , plus their feeder clubs all have a vote each and llanhilleth rfc actually put Moffet forward you have to wonder they actually got as little as 4 votes.

To say RRW and moffett have been left with egg on their faces is putting it mildly, they are totally isolated from the rest of welsh rugby,

This sends a loud message than the rank and file stand with the union and the regions have to become more inclusive and work with the rest of welsh rugby if they want to succeed.

We need to drop the old city/town names and we need central contracts, if not then you can expect a valleys region or a north wales region to be set up to replace one of them in the near future

[Oldschool]

well Moffatt attempt at a game of dragons type coup ended as well for him as poor old robb stark.

WRU EGM No confidence vote figures: 4 backed the motion, 462 were against it and 18 people abstained.

Now considering the regions had 4 votes , plus their feeder clubs all have a vote each and llanhilleth rfc actually put Moffet forward you have to wonder they actually got as little as 4 votes.

To say RRW and moffett have been left with egg on their faces is putting it mildly, they are totally isolated from the rest of welsh rugby,

This sends a loud message than the rank and file stand with the union and the regions have to become more inclusive and work with the rest of welsh rugby if they want to succeed.

We need to drop the old city/town names and we need central contracts, if not then you can expect a valleys region or a north wales region to be set up to replace one of them in the near future

JB - What is the feeling in Wales regarding the RRW cosying up to the PRL:
Related to that what is the feeling towards the Anglo Welsh competition.
Also how is the B&I cup viewed.
Would we be fooling ourselves in thinking that the WRU finaaly are seeing that their best future lies with the PRO12 set up:

[JB1973]

The WRU are very much behind the pro 12, they like the fact it's run by the unions and see it as a good way to develop players for the test team and want to go down the route of centra lcontracts.

RRW are hell bent on joining the PRL and want total control of the players.

The welsh public are split between regional fans who in the main are backing RRW and want to play English clubs week in and week out more than anything else.

And the fans of the test team and community game who want to see local derbys and want to see wales winning grand slams or beating tri nations sides more than anything else.

At present neither side has really broken the uneasy truce

However There has been no new participation agreement signed and as the 4th autumn international game is out of the IRB window we could see an if nothing changes we will see the regions refuse to release players for that game

When that happens the public will finally have to pick a side and I fully believe it will be on the side of the wru and team wales and that's when the wru will look to try and set up new regions (n/wales and Pontypridd would be the faves) I can see the other pro 12 sides backing the WRU after the RRW basically shafted them over the new RCC.

With no escape route to the PRL now , with the majority of welsh fans against them and with pro 12 partners with long memories.

I think the RRW are on very shaky ground and this could work out very badly for then if they are not careful

[Dave Cahill]

RRW are delusional though. They thought they could break away from the Pro12 and set up an Anglo-Welsh league. That was never going to happen. If the Pro12 had collapsed, the IRFU would have done a deal with the PRL and the PRL would find itself with a choice to make.

1) Insolvent Welsh regions without Union backing, without marquee names, without significant supporter backing and undesirable to advertisers
2) Financially sound Irish Provinces, laden with marquee names, fully backed by the Union, large crowds with a history of travelling to away matches, that are currently backed by significant commercial sponsors

Does anyone think that the RRW proposal wouldn't end up being used as an impromptu coaster?

You are right about the long memories. Connacht isn't being tooled up by the Union out of some sense of duty and Munster isn't having its capital programme debt restructured out of love. Its being done for one reason and one reason only. To target any potential second Welsh qualifier for the ERCC

[JB1973]

That's a valid point, Edinburgh have also got a few quid to spend (certainlyy more than the welsh regions) if they can just invest it wisely they should be pushing to get up that table.

RRW were delighted with the shake up of European rugby but as you point out 75% of our sides could miss out on the big cup altogether not sure they thought this through

[ronk]

That's a valid point, Edinburgh have also got a few quid to spend (certainlyy more than the welsh regions) if they can just invest it wisely they should be pushing to get up that table.

RRW were delighted with the shake up of European rugby but as you point out 75% of our sides could miss out on the big cup altogether not sure they thought this through

The success of Glasgow and the changes to the ERCCC probably point Edinburgh to figuring out how to get their act together.

[simonokeeffe]

That's a valid point, Edinburgh have also got a few quid to spend (certainlyy more than the welsh regions) if they can just invest it wisely they should be pushing to get up that table.

RRW were delighted with the shake up of European rugby but as you point out 75% of our sides could miss out on the big cup altogether not sure they thought this through

The success of Glasgow and the changes to the ERCCC probably point Edinburgh to figuring out how to get their act together.

Scottish players and good NSQs?

[ronk]

Scottish players and good NSQs?

Understanding that they can play better with the squad they have and setting achievable goals.

Edinburgh like to spend big on franchise players. That works for clubs in the right phase but is a waste otherwise. You want to build for a few years first. Welsh regions have sometimes found out that they're better when their big names and they don't have to wait for those guys to do something.

To take the English equivalent: Exeter know they can't sign stars, but they're well organised, hard working and they care about every home game. Gloucester have become a good side by being well run. Clubs like Sale, Bath and Newcastle have been loaded and signed big names, who usually underperform.

The home Rabo fixtures are key. Sell them well and you can build a club. Otherwise you're building on a house of cards.

[simonokeeffe]

Scottish players and good NSQs?

Understanding that they can play better with the squad they have and setting achievable goals.

Edinburgh like to spend big on franchise players. That works for clubs in the right phase but is a waste otherwise. You want to build for a few years first. Welsh regions have sometimes found out that they're better when their big names and they don't have to wait for those guys to do something.

To take the English equivalent: Exeter know they can't sign stars, but they're well organised, hard working and they care about every home game. Gloucester have become a good side by being well run. Clubs like Sale, Bath and Newcastle have been loaded and signed big names, who usually underperform.

The home Rabo fixtures are key. Sell them well and you can build a club. Otherwise you're building on a house of cards.

high turnover of players not good either way

[Lar]

That's a valid point, Edinburgh have also got a few quid to spend (certainlyy more than the welsh regions) if they can just invest it wisely they should be pushing to get up that table.

RRW were delighted with the shake up of European rugby but as you point out 75% of our sides could miss out on the big cup altogether not sure they thought this through

Isn't one of the problems that the Regions get the same share of the Euro Cup money regardless whether they compete in the Big Cup or the Challenge Cup. Gate receipts etc are then the only motivation to do well and these may be lessened as a factor if a Region were to qualify for the knock out stages of the Challenge Cup as opposed to finishing their Euro journey in the Group Stages of the Big Cup. End result is that prestige is the only reason to qualify for the Big Cup unless the Regions have designs on winning the thing (which they will never do without WRU support and central contracts).

Or have I misunderstood the position?

[simonokeeffe]

Scarlets have signed Chris Hala'ufia from London Irish, a 35 year old number 8 who's general contribution is high tackles and shoulder charges, am assuming its so Liam Williams has a lift to citing hearings

[Morf]

Scarlets have signed Chris Hala'ufia from London Irish, a 35 year old number 8 who's general contribution is high tackles and shoulder charges, am assuming its so Liam Williams has a lift to citing hearings

Group discount on defence counsel?

[simonokeeffe]

Scarlets have signed Chris Hala'ufia from London Irish, a 35 year old number 8 who's general contribution is high tackles and shoulder charges, am assuming its so Liam Williams has a lift to citing hearings

Group discount on defence counsel?

maybe its so Williams can say an older boy made me do it

[JB1973]

Scarlets have signed Chris Hala'ufia from London Irish, a 35 year old number 8 who's general contribution is high tackles and shoulder charges, am assuming its so Liam Williams has a lift to citing hearings

Group discount on defence counsel?

maybe its so Williams can say an older boy made me do it

Scarlets clearly giving youth it's head by signing the 34 year old regan king and this cheap shot merchant.

They haven't had a proper 8 since Ben Morgan left not sure how much this guy has left in the tank

[simonokeeffe]

age aside King seems like a romantacised signing

Morgan was off once he got a sniff of an England shirt

theyved signed Pitman from Wasps too but he seems like a bit of a journeyman

Timani left Scarlets too which flew under radar, so theyre after losing 4 or 5 of their better players and signed scrubbers if anyone to replace them
NZ 13 Tuifua has left Cardiff too and he was a big player for them