Welsh rugby aims to halt player-drain to England

Gwalia Lightning compete in the tri-nation Celtic Challenge

Welsh rugby bosses aim to halt the flow of playing talent heading to England with a radical shake up of the women's game in Wales.

While a cut in the number of professional men's teams dominated Friday's announcement by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), major changes were also unveiled for women's domestic rugby.

As well as extra funding for the regional level teams - Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning - there will be a new four-club league, a national academy and player development centres.

WRU chair of the women's committee Amanda Bennett said: "This is an historic moment. Never before has the WRU made such a commitment to the success of the women's game in Wales."

Bennett admitted the club level was not meeting the needs of the growing number of girls and women taking up rugby, leading many to play in England.

But the national team is also suffering.

Wales have finished bottom of the past two Six Nations having won just two of their last 13 games in the tournament, despite the arrival of new head coach Sean Lynn.

And they hit a low point this summer when they crashed out of the World Cup pool stage having lost all three matches for the first time.

As a team they have the fourth-highest investment in women's international rugby with almost 40 full-time professional players, most playing for clubs in England.

"Many of our best players head east to England," said Bennett.

"There's an argument that it is a benefit for them to be training next to world champions as England's players are now, but that creates issues over access for the Wales national coaches while too many of those players are not playing.

"We have seen in WXV tournaments and the last World Cup that many of our players were not physically or psychology prepared."

Wales captain Bethan Lewis is among many Welsh players based at Gloucester-Hartpury

Regional sides Thunder and Lightning, who compete in the Celtic Challenge against teams from Ireland and Scotland, will also be further developed, including dual contracts and additional coaching staff, with the aim of attracting Welsh talent to return from outside Wales.

The WRU has also announced a pilot scheme to run four teams at club level, based around the country alongside current established men's clubs that have the "facilities, commitment and support" to work in partnership.

These will initially receive funding of £96,000 each per year, rising to up to £250,000 and will compete against each other in a league format over three months.

It is hoped this will provide playing, training and conditioning opportunities for younger players aged 18 to 24 alongside adult players and could be expanded to eight clubs if the playing base expands.

A national academy is also to be established along with three player development centres and nine satellite locations across Wales.

Bennett added: "This is a transformative moment for women's rugby in Wales. The WRU's commitment to funding and infrastructure will help us attract and retain top talent and build a competitive domestic structure.

"We all saw the amazing success of the Women's World Cup tournament this year. This is an area for growth in the sport both globally and in Wales."