Fears grassroots rugby cuts will leave clubs struggling

Tudur Roberts believes the decision to cut hub officers will leave grassroots clubs like his "struggling for players"

Concerns have been raised over the future of rugby in Wales after cuts to the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) hub officer programme.

The programme, which placed officers in schools and colleges around the country, was designed to grow the game by encouraging youngsters to play.

One coach said he believed the decision to cut them will leave girls grassroots clubs like his "struggling for players".

WRU community director Geraint John said he was not going to argue there had been cuts to the programme, saying the organisation had to "relook at our finances and reshape the department".

The warning comes amid huge uncertainty for Wales' professional clubs after the WRU outlined plans to cut the number of regions to two.

A network of rugby hub officers was first established by the WRU in 2014 with the goal of developing the game at a grassroots level in Wales.

Their role included working in schools and institutions of further and higher education to introduce young people to the game.

"It's been vital for us," said Tudur Roberts, who coaches Nant Conwy Rugby Club's under-16s girls team in Llanrwst, Conwy county.

"We've had some teams struggling to get players and then Ifan, our local hub officer, would be in schools promoting rugby and pushing them to come to us.

"Every month he'd bring one or two new players to us."

Tudur Roberts said his local hub officer would bring new players to the game every month

Earlier this year, the WRU decided to cut funding for the programme as part of a restructuring plan to save £5m.

"It's going to be really tough. I don't know where we go from here... they [the WRU] don't seem to understand that grassroots is where the players come from," Mr Roberts said.

"That shows through the girls we've sent through to Wales. If there are no hub officers to start them on their way, then we're going to be struggling for players, and in turn, so will the national team."

Saturday will see Wales begin their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign as they take on Scotland in Salford.

It will be a proud day for Nant Conwy Rugby Club as they watch four previous players put on the Wales jersey.

Nel and Branwen Metcalfe, and Gwenllïan and Alaw Pyrs all began their rugby careers with the club in Trefriw on the outskirts of Llanrwst.

Wales' Branwen Metcalfe (left) and sister Nel Metcalfe began their rugby careers with the club in Trefriw

As Nant Conwy train for the first time this season, some of their current players are certainly inspired by the club's "fantastic four".

Ela, 13, said: "We're all really excited to watch Branwen, Nel, Alaw and Gwenllïan. We really look up to them as a club and as a team as well."

But Ela also believes the hub officers play a crucial role in making sure more girls have the chance to play for Wales one day.

"I think the hub officer we had last year was very important because he did a lot of things with us and gave us lots more opportunities in school, and to play against other schools," she said.

"I think it's going to be a big loss."

Her teammate Elsie, 13, added: "They do so much work, I don't know why they're being cut by the WRU. They've brought so many more girls to play here. I'm not sure what will happen without them."

Ela plays for Nant Conwy's under-14s team

The club have decided to take matters into their own hands by raising money to keep their local hub officer.

With the club turning 45 years old this year, club members have set themselves the challenge of walking 45 miles in one day.

"Everyone's behind it, we all want to keep our hub officer," said club member Elaine Jones.

"Without the hub officer our under-eights and under-10s wouldn't have had enough players, so we know how important they are."

Elaine Jones has daughters who play for Nant Conwy Rugby Club

Ms Jones said it was sad the club was having to resort to raising money for the role.

"It shouldn't be happening, but it is where we are, and we've just got to make the best of it," she said.

"We are a very rural valley, and many girls don't engage with rugby. It can be a 25-mile (40km) trip for their parents to bring them here and so being able to take rugby to the schools through the hub officers is fundamental really to that development.

"Unless something new can be put in place I am quite concerned for the future intake, over the next two years in particular."

Speaking to Radio Wales Breakfast, Geraint John, the WRU's community director, said one of the "key goals" was to develop young players in Wales and keep talent at home through things like scholarships.

He admitted having to "relook at our finances", but said the hub programme had been "reshaped rather than cut", with new rugby engagement officers set to cover more areas across Wales.

More than 200 people had applied for these jobs, which he said would also support coaching, refereeing and club funding.

Mr John said it was too early to know if fewer children would move from schools to clubs, but the WRU would "monitor" numbers and make changes if needed.

He added women's rugby was a "vitally important" with new applications opening soon for more hubs to grow the girls' game.