By Paul (02/12/02
December 2 2002

"Gone are the days of committees running the day-to-day business of the WRU." That was the message from the union's newly appointed chief executive David Moffett on his first day in office. In other news the Celtic League final venue and Semi-Final date's have been confirmed.

"Gone are the days of committees running the day-to-day business of the WRU."

That was the message from the union's newly appointed chief executive David Moffett on his first day in office. In other news the Celtic League final venue and Semi-Final date's have been confirmed.

Talking to Radio Wales this morning Moffett outlined his plan's for the future of the game. What better place to start than the Millennium Stadium's pitch.

"We had some experts in last week talking about what would work’’. said Moffett.

"We're going to have to lay a normal pitch albeit that is going to have to be replaced two or three times a year.

"But I think once we can get to that, we can make sure the pitch is good all the time."

And then on the seemingly never ending problem of structure;

"The pain is going to be widespread.

‘’There's definitely going to be pain.

"The WRU is going to go through a lot of change as well because one of my first tasks is to restructure the WRU.

"There's going to be a few redundancies, there's going to be an interest in getting our costs under control so we can look at the whole of Welsh rugby.

"We have the requirements of the Premier League but we also have the issue of the grassroots of rugby in Wales.

"If you don't fix the grassroots, then we haven't got a future in the game."

Moffett hinted at a reduction in paid player's around 120 to 150 players at the highest level.

"We're currently discussing whether players should be contracted to the union, the clubs or a combination of both," he revealed.

"What we want to do is put in place a system that is going to allow the best players to play to high standards week in, week out.’’

"Gone are the days of committees running the day-to-day business of the WRU."

Great last comment, but challenging the all mighty Committee strangle hold on the game will be an up hill struggle. But his past record suggests that if ever there was a man for the job then this is him. Having modernised the New Zealand Rugby Union back in the early years of professional rugby, as well Australian Rugby League when it was in darkest hours money wise.

Personally I believe that for a reduction in club's to be successful in the long term, the interest's from the club's will have to be considered second to the main aim of the reduction the national side. Why have five poorly funded clubs, when you can have three very well funded provinces?

Swansea and Wales Centre Mark Taylor will return for the Whites on Saturday in their Heineken cup match against Bristol on Saturday, having struggled with a recurring knee injury earlier this season.

The under 21's recorded a 28-7 win over the New Zealand under 21 development XV on Friday night. Through tries by Captain Paul James (Neath), Matthew Nuttall (Pontypridd), Ashley Copic (also Ponty) and Finally Llanelli Scrum Half Mike Phillips.

The Welsh/ Irish Celtic League final will definitely be played at the Millennium Stadium. Lansdowne Road was a considered option, but now Cardiff will only have to stroll next door. Munster or Ulster will contest the other semi.

Also the all Welsh semi-final between Cardiff and Neath is set to be shown live on S4C, on Saturday 4th January, kicking off at 5.30PM.

Finally Former Scottish & British Lion's number 8 John Beattie was well and truly made to eat humble pie on Saturday, after these comment's on the day both Scottish provinces were knocked out of the Celtic League, and both Welsh Clubs made it through to the semis.

"I watch teams from Wales and think 'Crikey, guys, get properly drilled.'"

"In Wales the players aren't fit enough and nomadic professionals will play for anyone if the buck is right.

"If you had three or four teams you'd see a better standard of rugby and would win more games.

"There'd be huge conflict in the game, though, with great club names asked to play second fiddle.

"It would take at least five years to get over the conflicts and would split the game down the middle."

And it's nice to see Scottish journalist's enjoyed Saturday as much as their fellow countryman Beattie;

The Scotsman's David Ferguson well and truly loses the plot.

"With the Neath v Pontypridd quarter-final having been a turgid mess of a match, I think, like the rest of Scottish rugby, I’ll now give the Celtic League a miss."

A candidate for Richard of the month? I'm torn between Beattie and Ferguson.