Watch: Welsh pundits claim 'faceless' WRU isn't fit for purpose
A hard-hitting TV debate featuring an ex-Wales international and a former Celtic League title-winning coach has claimed that the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) isn’t fit for purpose. The alleged mismanagement of the sport in Wales culminated in last weekend’s latest defeat for the men’s national team under Wayne Pivac, whose job is now said to be in jeopardy.
However, that dissatisfaction with Pivac is only seemingly part of the current malaise in Welsh rugby and James Hook and Sean Holley have both called for change. In recent years, the Scrum V programme has had a habit of sitting on the fence too much but new presenter Lauren Jenkins is a no-nonsense operator and she didn’t hesitate in putting the WRU negatively in the spotlight in the most recent show.
Speaking in the wake of Wales’ defeat to Australia, Jenkins didn’t hold back when canvassing Hook and Holley for their thoughts on what many perceive to now be a crisis in Welsh rugby.
“This is the situation as we sit here: We are three weeks on from Rob Butcher leaving as chairman, expressing his utter disappointment at the failure to appoint an independent chair. We’re a year on from Amanda Blanc, one of eight women in the FTSE100, leaving the board because she felt she could have no impact and wasn’t listened to,” began Jenkins.
“Club games are being called off, and there is no long-term financial deal between the union and the regions. Sean, is the Welsh Rugby Union fit for purpose?”
Is the Welsh Rugby Union fit for purpose?@laurenemmaj @_SeanHolley @hookjameshook
BBC Two Wales ?
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— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) November 27, 2022
“No, I don’t think it is,” responded Holley, who was at Ospreys during their trophy-winning era more than a decade ago. “It’s archaic. I did a lot of work around this Autumn Nations Series, I speak to loads of stakeholders all over, players, coaches, administrators, sponsors, CEOs of regions, lots of different people and very rarely do you get somebody who says a positive word about the WRU. I feel it has become a faceless institution.
“You only rarely hear from the CEO (Steve Phillips); we have had a very bland and grey statement in there (on the future of Pivac). When David Moffett was there, alright some people didn’t agree with him but you saw and heard him a lot.
“Who is the head of elite performance, the head of coach development? It becomes quite faceless when you put it like that and the Amanda Blanc interview was the most damning in recent times about how unprofessional, the community bias in terms of major boards that make major decisions rather than independent business high-performance people that we probably need now in a high-performance multi-million-pound company isn’t there.”
Ex-Wales out-half Hook now joined the chat. “We need to get that relationship back together, the WRU, the community clubs, because that relationship has gone by talking to the community clubs,” he reckoned. “Are the WRU mapping out what they want to achieve, are the community clubs listening, how do we get out relationship back?”
That was the prompt for show presenter Jenkins to make her follow-up remark. “That is the point because eight of the twelve directors on the board are from the community game, the Welsh Rugby Union are responsible for 300-plus clubs but not even the community clubs are happy they don’t feel they are being listened to.
“There must be a way of saying, ‘Look, we’ll give you what you want in return for a bit of power, dialogue, communication’ and just bringing that relationship a bit closer?”
Holley responded: “There is that feeling that turkeys won’t ever vote for Christmas and that is what we have in that situation or maybe there is a lack of communication around why we need this and the benefits it could have, the greater benefits. There is a tremendous amount of self-interest in Welsh rugby at all levels.”
Hook added: “Everyone realises there needs to be change but they don’t want to upset their own house really, so that is the problem we have got at the moment.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments