so here we are (15/12/05)


By paul
December 27 2005

For a rather unfortunate source of inspiration Welsh rugby has to look towards a political leader. The first in a regular series of articles looking at the State of Play in Welsh rugby. Originaly published 15th December 2005.

Comparisons stop at a desperate need to modernise, but in the midsts of a leadership change David Cameron at least wants infers real change is a possibility. I do not profess to knowing or caring to know much about how party politics works, but one statement that struck a chord with me the perennial cynic was Mr.Cameron's;


"Judge me on not where I have come from, but where I am going"


As Welsh rugby comes towards the end of another year could such a statement be more applicable? National team aside things are not exactly hunky dory. David Moffett's reign came to an inevitably premature end, leaving with a "regional" system that works on hypothesise, but in reality is a delicate facelift for changes sake and self interest.

Interest being a very appropriate word, whilst pleasing various creditors, Moffett was far too easily manipulated by various factions, and we are now seeing the end results. The thing that strikes me is the men who largely decided Welsh rugby's future were not representative of communities or you and I the average punter, but that of share holders.

Is it no surprise that interest in domestic rugby is at it's lowest in thirty years? The not-so fantastic four have rarely if ever delivered a product worthy of attracting supporters from outside their own catchment areas. The Celtic League suffers from over exposure and dire seemingly meaningless rugby, that is in all truth only really a compromise hand on heart.

Somehow Welsh rugby needs to snap out of it's negative cycle and stop taking the easy option, 2005 produced a grand slam born out throwing caution to the wind, guts and self belief, now if only those off the field could exhibit such qualities.

Only an outsider could deliver anything even vaguely visionary, without being sucked into the downward spiral that is Welsh rugby politics.

You can pick various intricacies apart, but the future needs to be the future not a newly repackaged past to score some electoral points.

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