Cut in Welsh rugby teams will 'run up white flag'

David Moffett was the Welsh Rugby Union chief executive between 2003 and 2006

Former Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive David Moffett says Wales will be "running up the white flag" if it cuts the number of professional teams to two.

Welsh rugby's governing body has produced a plan to turn around the game at both club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a consultation document.

The WRU's preferred proposal to halve its number of four men's professional sides - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - to two.

Moffett was the creator of regional rugby in Wales in 2003 when he orchestrated the change from the club game to five professional sides but says the latest changes will harm Welsh rugby.

"Welsh rugby is on its knees," Moffett told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"If they go down to two teams, they're just running up the white flag. They're putting Welsh rugby in the same position as Scotland."

The two-team proposal is the biggest talking point in a document which outlined four potential models for the game in Wales.

Moffett, 78, has criticised the 90-page presentation which is entitled the 'Future of Elite Rugby in Wales'.

"I think the document must have been produced in a deep, dark, dank dungeon somewhere in a room with no windows," said Moffett.

"They haven't gone out and sniffed the breeze.

"They don't understand the Welsh. They don't understand the way in which the parochialism from that valley to the next valley, works.

"For them to think they can go to two teams based east and west and disregard what has happened over the last 20 years, where people have not accepted regionalisation."

Moffett believes the WRU board should be changed and questions the credentials of the new director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin, who was a key author of the document.

"You could change the board for a start and you could make some other changes," said Moffett.

"Does he [Dave Reddin] know anything about Welsh rugby? As the administration of rugby, I don't think he's ever held a position like that but that has got nothing to do with it as far as I'm concerned.

"The fact of the matter is they've come out with this rubbish and have not actually thought the consequences of it through."

There will be a six-week consultation period that starts on 1 September before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans.

WRU chief executive Abi Tierney has urged people to "improve on the proposals" and provide "something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby". The governing body say they will listen to suggestions.

"It's absolute rubbish," said Moffett.

"They've already made their decision. Otherwise, why would they have come out and said, look, this is our preferred option?"

Architect of regional rugby

Lyn Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Lynn Howells (Celtic Warriors), Dai Young (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Jenkins (Llanelli Scarlets), Mike Ruddock (Newport Gwent Dragons) were the first five regional coaches announced in 2003.

Moffett says he realised a few years after introducing regional rugby in Wales that it was not suited to the Welsh game.

"At around about 2009, I realised 98.5% of the clubs agreed with regionalisation, but that didn't translate into fan adoption," said Moffett.

"And they voted with their feet, they didn't like it, they didn't want the teams put together.

"From 2009, I was suggesting they should change it. It was all right for the time. We won the first Grand Slam in 27 years.

"But then because of mismanagement, it had lost its focus and I was suggesting they should do something different."

When asked whether he takes any responsibility for Welsh rugby's current state, Moffett replied: "How can you say that? The responsibility I take is for turning around the financials of Welsh rugby massively, leaving the subsequent people with a very good balance sheet.

"We won, as I said, multiple Grand Slams and the first Grand Slam for 27 years. "That's what I take responsibility for."

'Fans have been let down'

Moffett launched a stinging attack on the current WRU, claiming they have let down Welsh rugby supporters, with around half of the governing body's turnover coming from international men's matches at the Principality Stadium.

"The WRU do not understand the fans pay for everything," said Moffett.

"Every single touchpoint of revenue comes from the fans and they only get their money from them and also from borrowings.

"It's exactly the same as a government and the fans don't realise realise that."

Some supporters will be consulted in the next month over the proposals with Moffett stating they should be annoyed at the manner in what he claims the WRU "has wasted their money."

"The fans should be up in arms at the way in which the union has been and squandered all of the great opportunities," said Moffett.

"The fans have paid for it all and now they're being told we don't really need you, we're going to take away all your reason for being.

Moffett added he had written an article on the subject and "if he was pressed, he would perhaps go to three teams but was not going to enter into that debate".

'No vested interest'

Moffett heads up the sports and entertainment division of American-based company House of Luxury that were unveiled earlier this month as future investors at the Scarlets.

Moffett denies he has a vested interest in the process of what happens next in Welsh rugby.

"What's that got to do with the price of peanuts?" said Moffett.

"Have I mentioned any club affiliation? These are my own views that I put and I think I've earned the right to put my own views.

"It's got nothing to do with the company that I'm involved with. Absolutely nothing.

"In actual fact, I don't have anything to do with the Scarlets proposals. I've got so much other things I'm looking at."