Barbarians fixture clash with regional derby wrong admits WRU boss Nigel Walker
- Published
Wales will play Barbarians for the first time in four years on November 4
Welsh Rugby Union interim chief Nigel Walker has admitted it was a mistake to allow Wales' match against Barbarians to clash with a regional derby.
Warren Gatland's side take on the famous invitation club on 4 November at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
The match is billed as a farewell to record cap-holder Alun Wyn Jones, who will play for the Barbarians.
However it will finish little more than an hour before Scarlets face Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Welsh derbies are some of the biggest money-spinners for the regions who are facing even tougher financial cuts this season.
Cardiff supporters accused the WRU of undermining regional rugby with a "staggering short-term fix" in a letter of protest to the new WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood.
Walker said the Barbarians date, also seen as a vital revenue raiser by the WRU following the loss of the usual November Tests because of the World Cup, had been agreed before the URC fixtures were announced.
However, he added: "It's not great that they're on the same day and I can assure people that it won't happen again.
"It's not URC's fault. We should have stuck it out when we were sat at the table and said the derby can't be on that day.
"We need the Barbarians fixture and it's a great chance for the Welsh public to say well done to the team for the World Cup on the 50th anniversary of Gareth Edwards' famous try.
"But it shouldn't be on the same weekend as a Welsh derby. We need to be cuter about what we agree to."
Walker also confirmed the WRU was no longer exploring hosting a Premiership match between Bristol and Gloucester on 2 December.
That date, by coincidence, was the same as the reverse fixture between Cardiff and Scarlets at the Arms Park next door to the Principality Stadium.
Wales beat Japan and Georgia at the U20s Championship and came within a point of New Zealand
Walker's admission over the bad timing of the Barbarians date came after Gatland had identified the importance of closer ties with the regions to develop future Wales players.
Gatland confirmed he wants to see out his five-year contract and take Wales to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
"There's an opportunity now to build closer relationships with the regions with some of the changes in coaches and personnel," he said.
"In the past sometimes those relations have been fractured because of things going on between the union and regions but we've been dragged in.
"So it's encouraging to get on the same page because we are mainly dealing with the same players and we want to keep our best players in Wales, for the regions and the national team."
'Regions can use youth'
Gatland believes a silver lining to the financial crisis that has crippled player retention and recruitment at Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets will mean more opportunities for younger players.
Wales finished sixth at the World Rugby Under-20s World Championships this summer.
Gatland said: "The salary cap and everyone having to be conscious of the money spent on players to keep within budgets is a positive for younger players who are going to get more opportunities at their regions.
"It's been frustrating in the past because we've identified talent but they hardly play regional rugby because of the pressure on coaches to get results, so we've had to use the international stage to develop them.
"Things have changed and there are now fewer overseas players at the regions. The regions need to give their youngsters opportunities and I think they will now do that."