In the following blog post, WRU Director of Rugby and Elite Performance, Dave Reddin, reflects on the close of the consultation into the future of elite rugby in Wales. He outlines what has been heard over the past month, the importance of going forward together as a rugby nation, and the next steps as the WRU executive team prepares its recommendations for the Board.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

I began our consultation on the future of Welsh rugby with those words, and as we draw that process to a close, they feel more important than ever. Over the past month we have seen what it really means to go together, with thousands of people across the country taking the time to share their views, their ideas, and their hopes for the game we all love. The response has been extraordinary. More than 7,000 people filled in our engagement survey, with many writing detailed and thoughtful contributions. We also held over 30 face-to-face meetings with our stakeholders including the professional clubs, coaches, players, community clubs, official supporters’ groups, politicians and, most recently, our own colleagues. Those conversations took us across Wales and often ran for hours, generating page after page of invaluable insight. It has been a huge volume of feedback to absorb, but above all, it has been a reminder of just how much rugby matters in Wales and how much people want to see it thrive. The themes that emerged were powerful. There was clear agreement that change is needed – no one wants to stand still or cling to the status quo. But there were also areas where views naturally differed. The number of professional men’s teams is a subject that inspires strong opinions. The role of academies and how best to develop our young talent brought a range of perspectives too, and that is exactly why we embarked on this process. To listen, to test our ideas, and to make sure whatever decision is taken, that it is grounded not just in data and strategy, but in the lived experience of those who play, coach, sustain, enable and support the game in Wales. At the same time, there were striking points of consensus. Our performance pathways were raised time and again, with people from the grassroots game right up to the elite level recognising the need for a clearer and more connected journey for our players. Women’s rugby was another consistent theme, with many stressing that we now have a golden opportunity to build structures that allow the women’s game to flourish at every level. Importantly for me, we saw throughout, that there was a recognition that whatever changes are made, they must be designed as part of one interconnected system – not separate pieces, but a whole that is stronger together. So where do we go from here? Closing the consultation does not mean the work is over. In many ways it means the work is only just beginning. As an executive team, we now face the task of analysing the evidence and feedback we have gathered in detail. We are not just weighing up survey numbers or opinions. We are testing every view against the overall goal of creating a system that is sustainable and successful for Welsh rugby, from grassroots right through to the national teams in both our men’s and women’s games. That means making hard choices. It also means recognising that some of those choices will take time to implement. Not everything can change overnight, and we have to think carefully about the phasing and transition so that changes are realistic, manageable, and lasting. Over the coming days, the executive team will be preparing a series of papers covering every aspect of the proposals – from the financial implications of different models to pathways and academies, to the women’s game, to what structures we need around these to make it all work. These papers will be presented at an initial meeting with the WRU Board. That is not decision day, but it is the moment when we bring everything together, ensure the Board has the full picture, and allow space for understanding and debate. Only then can the right decisions be made in the weeks that follow. I know that this process has caused uncertainty. Change is never easy, and when it affects something as close to people’s hearts as rugby in Wales, the emotions run deep. But I have been struck by the way people have engaged, not with folded arms, but with openness, fresh solution-driven ideas, honesty and real care. That has made this consultation constructive and valuable, and I want to thank everyone who has played a part.

As we move into the next phase, I come back to the proverb I started with. If we want to go far, we must go together.

The decisions ahead will not satisfy every view, but if we can find a way to get behind them collectively, we have the chance to build something powerful - a system that sets Welsh rugby on the right path for the future. Diolch yn fawr. Reddin quote mark

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