Matt Lloyd
BBC Sport at Principality Stadium

Welsh Rugby bosses insist cutting the number of professional men's clubs from four to two is the "radical step" needed to save the game in Wales.

The governing body has unveiled its controversial plan for the future of the elite game that puts Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets at risk.

Among four models being considered is the "optimal" choice of halving the number of professional teams.

The Welsh Rugby Union has not indicated their preferred locations for clubs or names and insist that no decisions have yet been made.

A consultation period will begin on 1 September before a recommendation will be sent in mid-October to the WRU board to make a final decision.

Image source, BBC Sport

Matt Lloyd
BBC Sport at Principality Stadium

Welsh Rugby Union confirms cutting number of professional men's clubs from four to two is best option for the game in Wales.

More to come on this big breaking news from Welsh rugby HQ.

Sara Dafydd
BBC News at Parc y Scarlets

Right we've heard from fans at the Dragons in Newport, now to the other end of the M4 to Llanelli to for some reaction from fans outside the Scarlets ground at Parc Y Scarlets.

“I think given the heritage and the fanbase we’ve got here, I think Scarlets have got to be involved," said fan Richard Esney, from Llanelli.

Scarlets fan and Sosbans and Sidesteps podcast host Ben Griffiths feels the Welsh Rugby Union's proposal risks “alienating the very fans that are its lifeblood”.

Although no teams have been named, the 37-year-old from Pontarddulais says: "A world without the Scarlets is a world I don’t want to partake in. If we go, I’m done with Welsh rugby."

For Ben, merging sides is a move "perceived as a short sighted attempt to solve financial woes by sacrificing the heritage and community ties that make Welsh rugby unique".

“It’s not just 80 minutes of rugby we’d lose - it’s the friendships, the days out, the sense of community. It’s a huge part of my life."

Image source, Ben Griffiths

Tomos Morgan
BBC News

Ryan Price, treasurer of the Dragons Official Supporters Club, says Welsh rugby's situation is "incredibly frustrating".

"We’re told this is an open consultation on the WRU’s proposals, this is just an optimal solution they may consider changing," he said.

"But at the same time you have a statement from the chief executive saying it is very difficult to see a situation where Cardiff is not part of that solution."

He says although there is an acceptance "radical change" is needed, it's "difficult to envisage supporting brand new teams with new names".

“We are comparatively lucky, we are only 30 miles on the train from Gloucester," said Mr Price.

"There are opportunities to support top level rugby that hasn’t been pulled out from under your feet”.

BBC Radio Wales

Former Wales captain Paul Thorburn has been speaking to BBC Radio Wales' Phone In and said:

"We are a very challenged country economically and it’s proven over the years since the regionalisation of the game back in 2003, it’s not sustainable," said Thorburn, who worked for the Welsh Rugby Union and the Ospreys after retiring from playing in 1991.

"So we have to come up with a solution that works for everybody and gets away from the rivalry that exists.

"If we create two new entities and I propose that we have an east Wales and west Wales.

"We’re on about creating two new entities that have no allegiance to any individual club and therefore hopefully supporters from those clubs will see the pathway that is being put in place to develop players, ultimately representing Wales."

Image source, Getty Images

Eleri Griffiths
BBC News

If you're just joining us, a very good afternoon and here's a quick recap of what's happening today in a pivotal day in Welsh rugby:

• The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is expected to propose cutting the number of men's professional rugby teams down from four to two.
• The proposal is expected to include two men’s and two women’s squads.
• This comes after poor performances by both the Wales national team and the four Welsh regions - the Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff.
• WRU bosses saying the current system isn’t working and a radical plan is needed.
• It's still unclear if the two proposed teams will be new or existing ones.
• A six-week consultation will begin soon, and a final decision is expected by the end of October.

More details will be shared at a WRU press conference this afternoon in Cardiff.

Stick with us as we will be bringing all the updates and reaction as it happens.

Image source, Getty

Sara Dafydd
BBC News at Parc y Scarlets

And now back to Parc y Scarlets, which is a lot quieter today after last night’s meeting for fans to meet the club’s new investors.

We started to get reports of the WRU’s proposed plans as supporters started to arrive and the vibe quickly changed.

Fans appeared shocked and deflated. Some telling me they would rather support a team in England rather than any new set up in Wales.

Others saying they wouldn’t be able to support the WRU in anyway going forward.

Today that uncertainty continues not just for fans but also for staff and players, who I’m told are being briefed here at Parc y Scarlets this afternoon, as we wait for further detail from the WRU.

Jordan Davies
BBC News at Rodney Parade

At Rodney Parade the mood is grim among some fans. Diehard supporters fear not just the loss of their region, but the wider impact it may have on the city of Newport. If nothing else, Dragons fans brim with passion, and fly the flag for rugby in the east of Wales. Today they’re scathing of the WRU and worried about their team’s future.

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales

Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan has been reacting to the WRU proposals from the Pembrokeshire County Show.

"There’s lots of concerns amongst fans across Wales, and it is really important that fans are listened to, but this is a decision for the Welsh Rugby Union," she told BBC Wales.

Sara Dafydd
BBC News at Parc y Scarlets

Now for some reaction from fans of the regions.

Llewelyn Davies, 24, a Scarlets supporter, believes it will "alienate a lot of fans" but adds "west is best".

"I cant see it being played anywhere else, we have had 150 years of success," he tells BBC Wales outside Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.

“I think the only thing, for me as a Scarlets fan, is that the rugby is played in west Wales, in red."

Eleri Griffiths
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

Former Welsh international Chris Horsman, who played for the Celtic Warriors, one of the original five regional teams, says the WRU is starting “from below scratch”, with fans already “angry” and “disappointed.”

If new teams are formed, he explains they must “be successful from the off” to rebuild trust and support.

Horsman stressed the need for strong leadership and clear communication to bring together regions, players, and fans.

“Welsh rugby should be the fabric of our society… but without supporters, you don’t have buy-in, and without buy-in, you don’t have a product,” he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

He added it’s “massively important” the WRU gets this right, warning that “things are getting pretty desperate".

“You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube… once those teams are gone, they’re gone,” Horsman added.

Well, as you can imagine bosses at Wales' four current regions won't be happy if the number of teams are halved.

The Dragons are based in Newport and have already said that elite professional rugby must continue in Gwent - an area of south-east Wales that once had five top-tier teams.

The Ospreys and Scarlets - based in Swansea and Llanelli respectively - had previously not signed a new funding deal with the Welsh Rugby Union, a situation that has partly led to this latest radical proposal.

The Ospreys have plans to move into a new stadium in Swansea for the 2026-27 season while Scarlets have recently unveiled new investors.

Both regions haven't commented on these latest plans so far but fans won't be happy as it could mean two rival teams could merge.

Cardiff, however, are currently now owned by the WRU after the capital region went into administration earlier this year.

The fear for rugby bosses and fans is that whatever happens in the next few weeks could end up in a legal battle.

Image source, Getty Images

Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales

As we've highlighted, the finer detail of the Welsh Rugby Union's proposal to cut the number of men's professional rugby teams in Wales from four to two is to come.

But we understand the WRU propose that there will be two organisations which will each have a men's and women's team.

There could be 50 players in each men's squad with a budget of £7.8m each, while the women's squads will have 40.

The union says the two squads would feature predominantly Welsh-qualified players, while there would be a rethink on non-Welsh qualified players.

Phase one would involve the move of the two sides - the men's and women's - operating on two sites. There will also be a transition to contracting of players and staff within central national academies.

Phase two would involve the clubs moving to training at one site which will be known as a national campus.

This will be home to 400 people, including men's and women's national staff, professional and clubs staff and national academies. The men's and women's academies will be centralised.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales

If you're just joining us while you have a bit of lunch, here's a quick reminder of what's happening today in a pivotal day in Welsh rugby.

The headline news is the Welsh Rugby Union are set to lay out radical plans to cut the number of professional men's rugby teams in Wales from four to two.

After a turbulent period for Welsh rugby, it is part of a major plan to improve the game, with each new team expected to have a side for both men and women players.

It's still unclear if the two proposed teams will be new or existing ones - we'll hear more the bosses at the WRU later this afternoon at a press conference in Cardiff.

A six-week consultation will follow, with a final decision due by the end of October. Stick with us for all the latest.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales

Crisis and Welsh rugby have gone hand in hand over the years...

To deal with the latest challenges, in July the Welsh Rugby Union said the current system wasn't working and a major new approach was needed.

After winning four Six Nations Grand Slams in 14 years, the Welsh men's national team slumped to a record 18-match losing streak and slipped to 12th in the world rankings.

Wales' four regions - the Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff - have also struggled in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and European competitions.

A new deal between the WRU and the regions was delayed after Cardiff went into temporary administration while the Scarlets and Ospreys refused to sign over "key" unresolved issues.

Only Cardiff and the Dragons signed - and that prompted the WRU to reconsider funding all four teams as they said they would no longer fund four men's regions equally.

Image source, Getty

Matt Lloyd
BBC Sport at Principality Stadium

You can tell it's a big day for Welsh rugby by the interest today's announcement is generating.

I'm here among some 30 or more journalists and camera crew from local, regional and national media outlets all gathered in a room at the Principality Stadium in the middle of Cardiff waiting to learn more from the Welsh Rugby Union about their proposals.

We're expecting to hear from chief executive Abi Tierney, chair Richard Collier-Keywood and director of rugby Dave Reddin about the union's preferred option and - crucially - why they are considering cutting the number of regions.

As always, the devil is often in the detail.

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning, welcome to the BBC's live page in what could be a seismic day for Welsh rugby.

The game's governing body in Wales is expected to propose cutting the number of professional rugby teams down to two.

The Welsh Rugby Union - known as the WRU - feels the current system is failing after recent poor performances by both regions and national teams.

Rugby bosses in Cardiff now feel the game needs a more radical plan.

We’ll share updates and expert analysis as soon as we get it.

Image source, Getty