The regions are a f**king joke.
Forever gurning about the Pro12, about the WRU not giving them enough money, about not having a fair crack at the HEC.
They never looked in the mirror and wondered why they get **** poor attendance figures whenever they actively run down their main competition and insist they are never going to win the European one.
"The WRU, by telling us we have to play in the Heineken Cup with a more modest increase in funding than the other teams in the tournament at a time when we receive less centrally than any of them, are not allowing us to run our business properly," said one regional official. "It amounts to a restraint of trade. We believe we have the right to explore opportunities elsewhere, whether it is an Anglo-Welsh league or an alternative to the Heineken Cup. We are being squeezed by our own union to the point where they are telling our players not to sign contracts. This cannot go on."
The WRU are (largely) funding you f**king region you clown. If you want the money, do as they say.
The WRU would be better off dumping them and setting up their own. Whether that is from existing clubs or from new starts (again) is up to them. But, given the regions failure; existing clubs might be a better way to go.
Hypothetical scenario 1: Regions win their court case and can play "abroad". They then elect to play in the PRL. Due to no HEC, the PRL accept them. But, without WRU support, in both funding and goodwill, how long do they last before being relegated? One season? Two?
The WRU then set up their own superclubs, which are entered into the Pro12 (they'd actually have to do this as they have not indicated in due they would withdraw from the Pro12). With centrally contracted players and immediately appealing to the existing grassroots, these superclubs have decent (but not great attendance figures) and a rock-solid financial foundation. Which the WRU would seek to grow from over time.
Hypothetical scenario 2: The regions win their court case and can play "abroad". PRL don't accept them.
WRU set up superclubs and leave regions out. Regions wither and die.
Hypothetical scenario 3: Regions win their court case and can play "abroad". They then elect to play in the PRL. Due to no HEC, the PRL accept them. They somehow survive without any additional funding to become viable entrants into the PRL
The WRU then set up their own superclubs, which are entered into the Pro12 (they'd actually have to do this as they have not indicated in due they would withdraw from the Pro12). With centrally contracted players and immediately appealing to the existing grassroots, these superclubs have decent (but not great attendance figures) and a rock-solid financial foundation. Which the WRU would seek to grow from over time.
The two are in direct competition for the support base.
Which would win?
Hypothetical scenario 4: The regions lose their court case.
WRU are sick of them and set up superclubs anyway. Regions wither and die.
Hypothetical scenario 5: The regions lose their court case.
WRU stick with them and centrally contract players, reducing the financial power of the regions to a point where they can buy them out.
Any other likely scenarios I've missed out? [if it goes to court]
