Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
Football has always been that way, but until recently, in rugby, it was always the home team which changed.
The rugby
- Thread starter swee'pea99
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Football has always been that way, but until recently, in rugby, it was always the home team which changed.
Blazing Saddles
Über Member
When club understudy players are getting caps for playing against the world’s best, it’s clear for all to see that the hole you are in will take very long time to climb out from.
For years, Wales punched above their weight, thanks in no small part to the under appreciated, Warren Gatland.
All this serves for now is to make the realisation that Wales no longer has a place at the top table, even more stark.
So, with the Welsh cupboard seemingly bare, why does the WRU persist in penalising players who have the effrontery to play their rugby elsewhere?
Why force players with the desire to play for their country to become home players within a regional set up that exists between confusion and uncertainty?
As most here will know, I choose to follow the Gallagher premiership and every week I find out about exciting, young Welsh talent playing for their English clubs. Yet, when it comes to selecting, they are either overlooked or ignored, due to our ridiculous cap rule.
It’s long past time for the WRU to correct their mistake and make selection a free market.
For years, Wales punched above their weight, thanks in no small part to the under appreciated, Warren Gatland.
All this serves for now is to make the realisation that Wales no longer has a place at the top table, even more stark.
So, with the Welsh cupboard seemingly bare, why does the WRU persist in penalising players who have the effrontery to play their rugby elsewhere?
Why force players with the desire to play for their country to become home players within a regional set up that exists between confusion and uncertainty?
As most here will know, I choose to follow the Gallagher premiership and every week I find out about exciting, young Welsh talent playing for their English clubs. Yet, when it comes to selecting, they are either overlooked or ignored, due to our ridiculous cap rule.
It’s long past time for the WRU to correct their mistake and make selection a free market.
Tbh, I've never really cared past thinking why are they wearing that kit? I never asked the question, or put two and two together. 😂
winjim
Straddle the line, discord and rhyme
I have sometimes wondered whether playing in different kit affects their game, but I figured they're professionals and play club games in whatever colours so should be able to handle it. It is a shame if they're breaking a tradition though, especially if it does help to even out a home advantage.
Bonefish Blues
Banging donk
- Location
- 52 Festive Road
It does if you're playing this - in a white strip!:
View: https://youtu.be/sN-vlHWA8Y0?si=XQyQGSgGXI2c-uiz
Salad Dodger
Legendary Member
- Location
- Kent Coast
I genuinely do not understand why Wales did not vary their kickoffs more. They were all deep into the 22, which gave George Ford tons of time to pick a spot to kick it back to. Why not try a shorter kick off and pressure a forward?
Pross
Guru
Considering the uncertainty for the Regions and what is the job / livelihood of the players it is an even more bizarre rule to enforce. “We don’t know which of you will still have a team to play for next season or whether you’ll have an income but if you leave to play in a better quality, more financially stable league we’ll stop you playing for Wales and select an inferior player instead” seems a moronic approach.
Dorset Boy
Senior Member
- Location
- North Dorset or a mountain
Totally agree. The WRU are shooting themselves in the foot big time.
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
Three good opening matches in my mind .
Watched Italy and Scotland today and I think Scotland threw it away with their lineout play .
Watched Italy and Scotland today and I think Scotland threw it away with their lineout play .
laurentian
Senior Member
Regarding Wales, I just read this on the BBC website:
" . . . they have now won only two of their past 24 Tests and have not won a Six Nations match since 2023."
Not won a six nations match since 2023 . . . I'd like to think I follow rugby a bit but I honestly did not realise how poor they have been
" . . . they have now won only two of their past 24 Tests and have not won a Six Nations match since 2023."
Not won a six nations match since 2023 . . . I'd like to think I follow rugby a bit but I honestly did not realise how poor they have been
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
Since the start of the 6 nations, 3 of their 4 biggest losses have been in the last 12 months. They really are in trouble.
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
It is difficult for people outside the Country to realise just how bad the rugby situation in Wales is. Not just the international team but also the whole structure of and support for rugby at the regional level.
Football has long taken over as the most popular sport and top level rugby is dying on its arse.
The WRU has a habit, through arrogance, of making bad decisions. For me the worst was around the time when the English premiership was beginning and there was a genuine possibility of a joint Wales/England club league but the WRU wanted a larger number of teams from Wales than England were prepared to accept.
There would have been huge gates compared to the small regional gates we have now if the old cross border rivalries had been allowed to continue, and the competition for Welsh teams would have been much stronger than in the current URC.
Football has long taken over as the most popular sport and top level rugby is dying on its arse.
The WRU has a habit, through arrogance, of making bad decisions. For me the worst was around the time when the English premiership was beginning and there was a genuine possibility of a joint Wales/England club league but the WRU wanted a larger number of teams from Wales than England were prepared to accept.
There would have been huge gates compared to the small regional gates we have now if the old cross border rivalries had been allowed to continue, and the competition for Welsh teams would have been much stronger than in the current URC.
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
But what gets me is they won a grand slam in 2019. And the championship in 2021. That's only 5 years ago.
Due to their small player base they've always been a bit fragile and capable of having bad seasons, but they've always bounced back. Sometimes rather annoyingly
Remember the 2015 RWC. So I tend to think "ah, we've seen this before ..."But this seems to be the real deal. They aren't pretending.
The only conclusion I can draw is that during his first stint at least, Warren Gatland was working miracles. But when he came back it was beyond even him.
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
I don’t understand why schools and club rugby has died out at grass roots level.
Why have the state schools stopped playing rugby?
Why have the state schools stopped playing rugby?
laurentian
Senior Member
I'm (very) involved with community rugby. There seems to be a significant decline in schools playing and I think one reason for this is the dangerous (or at least the perception of it being dangerous) nature of the game and the fear of litigation. There are, however thriving Mini and Junior sections of amateur clubs all over the country that school kids can join - though in terms of senior playing numbers this doesn't translate to strength in depth at senior level as the numbers generally tail off to the "hard core" somewhat in the teens. Hundreds (literally "hundreds" at our club) of kids play from 5 to 18 but then a significant proportion now go to university and are lost from the game forever.
The pandemic had a massive effect on senior playing numbers. Good players playing at a good level simply never returned - I don't know why but they seemed to find other things to do on winter Saturdays. Having said that, the women's game seems to be on a steady upward trajectory which is great news!
From an amateur club perspective, the post match "drinking culture" still exists but many 20-30 year olds simply don't indulge in 5pm drinking and a night in the clubhouse (don't get me wrong, this is still very much part of "the game" but society has changed to the point that I consider it a small factor in declining participation).
I also believe that changes in the laws of the game have obviously changed the game's dynamic. Many would say that this is for the good and in many ways I agree, but it seems to me that some of these laws are beginning to preclude people with different physical attributes and abilities. The sad thing here being that these laws are changed to "improve" the elite level of the sport (sometimes just to make it good TV) but the amateur game that never asked for or needed these law changes is affected to it's detriment. It was telling when to the radio this morning that some rugby "expert" was talking about the mitigation taken to reduce head injuries. When commenting on potential changes to the laws, he kept saying "people want to see . . ." not once did he say "people want to play . . ." This speaks volumes.
Finally, when I speak to many people within the game at our level they are agreed that there is one huge, huge reason for the decline in regular, committed participation - the mobile phone.
