Wales to force URC-Premiership merger?
07/25/2024 08:43 AM
Wales have reportedly started initial talks over a future Anglo-Welsh competition, which could see the Premiership merge with the URC.
The 2023-24 URC season saw just one Welsh side – the Ospreys – finish in the top eight and qualify for the playoffs, with Cardiff, Scarlets and Dragons all winning fewer than half of their games and finishing in the bottom five.
With the current iteration of the URC struggling to keep Wales fans invested, reports have emerged that the country will be looking to revive an Anglo-Welsh league with England.
According to WalesOnline, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is actively exploring the idea and has held initial talks with key figures in the Premiership.
However, the URC would likely be loathe to lose four teams and the Welsh influence in the league, with the current contract still set to run for a couple of years.
A potential solution, according to the report, could be found in merging the Premiership with the URC and forming an Anglo-Welsh conference in the latter tournament.
“I'm totally aware that most Welsh people would want competition against England and that does feel like a good direction of travel,” WRU chairman Richard Collier-Keywood told WalesOnline.
“As of now, we're still committed to the URC. Of course, there are downsides to the URC, but there are also positives, we want to improve the situation from a Welsh perspective.”
Photo: Paul Harding/Getty Images
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