Welsh rugby in trouble

Wales coach Steve Hansen has insisted that Welsh rugby will be a 'joke and a laughing stock' unless drastic change is made to the domestic structure, as the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) keenly await the clubs' blueprint for the way ahead.

With clubs having roundly rejected new WRU CEO David Moffett's provincial plan, the ball has now been put back in the clubs' court, with a deadline of late this week being set for them to now come up with their own ideas. Hansen however believes that if the status quo remains, Welsh rugby will be consigned to ridicule from other countries.

"If we stay the way we are we will be considered to be a joke. We are perceived as a laughing stock at the moment. I think genuine rugby people are embarrassed at the way we are," said Hansen.

"Rugby as a game can't afford to lose a nation as passionate as we are. But what we have to do is make that passion work for us. It should be a strength and not a weakness. Sometimes we are so tribal and selfish we are not even prepared to change for the betterment of Welsh rugby.

"And that goes right from the men on the committee, through to players, coaches and supporters. We need to create an environment conducive for players to better themselves. Our player base is too watered down and we need to condense the talent to a point where you have to work hard at your game.

"We can't carry on with the why for's and why not's - that is it in simple terms. And that goes for the man on the street to the man who runs the clubs."

Whether or not the clubs can actually agree on a formula for effectively slimming down the number of top teams remains to be seen, although given their current slump at both Test and club level, the WRU's insistence on reform looks set to continue.