Dragons demand rethink on 'unacceptable' WRU plans

Dragons went into private ownership in 2023 after being owned by the WRU

Dragons have declared "Welsh rugby deserves better" than the plans for the elite game that propose cutting four professional sides to two.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is in the first week of a consultation process for its plan to turn around the fortunes of the game.

The governing body's 'optimal system' would cut the number of men's professional sides from four - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - to two.

The Rodney Parade club met with the WRU on Tuesday to discuss the plans.

"No compelling case has been made for reducing the number of professional teams to two," read a Dragons statement.

"We remain firm in our view that there is no reason the Dragons can't continue in our current form."

Dragons were taken over by the WRU in 2017 and went into private ownership in 2023 when a deal, which included the nine-acre Rodney Parade site, was completed with co-owners David Wright, David Buttress and Hoyoung Huh.

The new models would involve the WRU funding all rugby operations, with private investors having responsibility for commercial operations.

"The governance structures outlined by the WRU are not acceptable," read the Dragons statement.

"Rugby and commercial operations cannot be separated, and the Dragons will not sign up to a model that gives us no control of on-field performance."

'WRU must rethink' - Dragons chairman

David Wright became co-owner of Dragons RFC in 2023

Dragons, who finished bottom of the United Rugby Championship last season, signed a new Professional Rugby Agreement with the WRU in May.

They state that they are financially stable with a "clear plan to drive improvements in on-field performance".

They are taking legal advice and, while they will continue with the consultation process, are urging the WRU to change their plans.

"We are extremely disappointed in the initial proposals - they simply don't add up," said chairman Wright.

"We will continue participating in the consultation and we want to find a solution.

"We are committed to securing a positive future for Welsh rugby and to elite rugby continuing in Gwent, but there is no way we can agree to the proposals as they currently are.

"Welsh rugby deserves better and the WRU must rethink."

The consultation process ends on Friday, 26 September and that will be followed by a report being sent to the WRU board in mid-October, with a final decision expected by the end of that month.

The WRU insists no decisions have been made and that it is willing for plans to be shaped by discussions with the professional clubs, players and supporters.