Valleys Rugby
Since the disbanding of the Celtic Warriors, the South Wales valleys have been left without a professional region. Now, with growing support, plans for a Valleys region have been submitted to the WRU.
Valleys Rugby have published a business plan outlining how their region will be run. It differs from the other regions in the fact that it will be community led and run on a strict budget. It aims to incorporate the whole of the valleys and run a trial season to gain support next year.
The business plan makes for interesting reading. The headline grabbing proposal is the playing budget of £1.6m to cover a squad of 32 players. This is to be split between 12 development plays and 20 others earning in the region of £50,000 per player. With the other Welsh regions cutting costs to meet a £3.5m salary cap, this wage bill seems incredibly low, an issue already raised by the WRU.
The region is designed to be a people's regions. A region that will focus on taking the game across the different valleys by staging matches in different stadia. This will be in addition to taking professional rugby to North Wales. Sounds great until you read that in order to host matches at their ground, clubs must pay £10,000 to own a percentage of the region. This could put added strain on the finances of amateur clubs across the region.
The most bizarre plan is the share scheme. As part of the funding, the Valleys aim to have 10,000 supporters pay £100 each to buy shares in the club. This is before paying for season tickets and other expenses the public usually fork out on. With the other regions struggling for attendances, this may prove a step too far with the general public.
One aspect that seems to have been overlooked is the competitions in which the region will complete. Valleys rugby wish to join the Pro12 and also compete in the Amlin Cup. On the surface, this seems logical but does also present a few problems. Their introduction would see the Pro12 become the Pro13, meaning 2 extra games per side and the addition of rest weekends. This would expand an already congested season by 4 weeks.
Then there is European competition. The Valleys propose entering the Amlin Cup, allowing 4 Welsh regions to compete in the Heineken Cup. With Wales entering another side in both competitions, another country loses out. It is hard to imagine other unions and the ERC would allow this to happen without serious consideration.
Still there is a lot going for the fledgling region. Sponsors are apparently lining up and a kit supplier has been found. Ground support is swelling within the Valleys. They aim to re-engage the rugby community in the Valleys, whilst also focusing on developing talent that would benefit Welsh rugby. More significantly the WRU have indicated that they are willing to work with the region.
Whether the concept will work, I have major reservations and only time will tell. What is clear is that the Valleys feel left out following regionalization and want something done about it!
For more information visit www.valleysrugby.com
