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'Idiotic' - Welsh fans are irate with the timing of merger talks
In a week of controversial changes to rugby across the world, the WRU have chipped in with their own plan to potentially merge the Scarlets and the Ospreys.
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In light of these increasing rumours, and the introduction of a region from north Wales, fans have shown their disapproval on Twitter.
This new proposal has seemed to anger fans for many reasons, as a huge number has flocked to express their outrage.
One major reason why fans are up in arms is because of the success of both the Scarlets and the Ospreys.
Those two sides have been the most successful in Wales in the professional era, with the Ospreys winning the Pro14 four times and the Scarlets winning it twice, compared to both the Cardiff Blues and the Dragons who have not won it at all. The fact that the Dragons were not part of the merger has confused many fans across Wales, as they have clearly been the least successful region.
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Very few fans see the new set up being successful at all, as there were waves and waves of fierce criticism, highlighting the Scarlets’ long and proud history that will be in tatters.
The amount of criticism is so vast that it cannot be boiled down to a few tweets, however, there is one element of this potential merger that has confused the fans a lot, and that is the timing.
Wales are days away from their penultimate game of this year’s Six Nations against Scotland, with a potential Grand Slam on the horizon. After their heroic win over England in the last round, Wales are the only unbeaten side in the Championship. This news could seriously curtail Wales’ progress, in what is Warren Gatland’s final Six Nations before he leaves.
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This is what the fans have said:
https://twitter.com/kryptonknight83/status/1102829746902183937
https://twitter.com/alexj_roberts/status/1102878668072849408
https://twitter.com/Osian_Davies/status/1102685362139353088
https://twitter.com/ianlew17/status/1102875352580452352
https://twitter.com/Klaus_88/status/1102678443781689344
https://twitter.com/KilburnGa/status/1102675296954789888
https://twitter.com/JeffPhillips6/status/1102860025842810883
https://twitter.com/AndyYanited/status/1102672544623198213
https://twitter.com/juliemurray21/status/1102696226280140801
https://twitter.com/andy_thomas89/status/1102671457757347840
https://twitter.com/alexowen28186/status/1102845384836165632
https://twitter.com/RhydianFitter/status/1102889061189070848
It seems as if the WRU are actively trying to derail this Grand Slam. What on earth are they playing at announcing probably the most disruptive news in the last 15 years of Welsh rugby 5 days before a huge match against Scotland?
— Elis Williams (@ElisWilliams2) March 5, 2019
This is a proposal that has received universal criticism and condemnation across Wales, in what is one of the most radical changes in years.
Many will say that this is a move that had to happen and could not be avoided, but the timing of the announcement is what has irritated this particular set of fans.
Wales travel to Edinburgh on Saturday and will hope to extend their unbeaten run to 13 matches, while setting up a showdown with Ireland in Cardiff the week later with the hopes of securing Gatland’s third Grand Slam. All Welsh fans will hope that these announcements have not been to detrimental to the national team.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
1 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
2 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
21 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
21 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to comments