Crisis-hit Welsh Rugby Aiming To Halt Decline

ByGareth Griffiths

BBC Sport Wales

Travelling to Twickenham to look England has provided Welsh fans pinch immoderate magic memories complete nan years.

JPR Williams rampaging done nan Red Rose defence, Adrian Hadley gliding over, Scott Williams' rip and rampage to Triple Crown glory and Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar breaking English hearts successful their ain World Cup successful 2015.

But successful 2026, nan scenery looks very different.

There is continued discontent successful Welsh rugby pinch Steve Tandy's broadside arriving successful south-west London this play pinch faint dream of a affirmative consequence from fans, but small anticipation from astir observers.

This week's build-up to nan Six Nations opener has been a sideshow to Welsh rugby's ongoing, deep-rooted crisis. The latest rumor is nan imaginable disappearance from master rugby of Ospreys.

Welsh rugby has fixed nan federation overmuch delight successful nan past, pinch celebrated victories and Grand Slam memories, but for galore nan life is now slow being sucked retired of nan crippled successful Wales.

So really has a federation that topped nan world rankings little than 7 years agone fallen truthful far, truthful quickly?

Ospreys person antecedently been nan saviour of Welsh rugby astatine Twickenham.

Eighteen years ago, Wales travelled to look England successful a Six Nations opener which was besides Warren Gatland's first crippled successful charge.

The New Zealander had spent little than 2 weeks pinch his caller squad and famously went for familiarity, making nan historical determination to commencement 13 Ospreys.

Cardiff flanker Martyn Williams and Scarlets helping Mark Jones, nan existent Ospreys caput coach, were nan exceptions.

The argumentation worked arsenic Wales won 26-19 connected their measurement to a Grand Slam. They were besides Grand Slam winners successful 2012 and 2019, pinch a further Six Nations title successful 2013 and 2 World Cup semi-finals during that period.

Ospreys provided a ample number of Gatland's players during his first stint successful charge, arsenic they became nan astir successful broadside since nan inception of location rugby 23 years ago, claiming 4 convention titles betwixt 2003 and 2012.

They produced Shane Williams, who won World Rugby's subordinate of nan twelvemonth successful 2008, while Ospreys' grounds quality holder Alun Wyn Jones is besides nan world's most-capped international.

That is earlier you mention erstwhile prima players specified arsenic Gavin Henson, Mike Phillips, Tommy Bowe, James Hook, Justin Marshall, Jerry Collins, Justin Tipuric, Adam Jones and Ryan Jones.

There are 8 Ospreys players successful nan existent squad and 4 progressive against England this weekend, while Tandy himself is simply a erstwhile subordinate and coach astatine nan region.

But a rich | caller history is now being threatened.

2026 Guinness Six Nations

Saturday, 7 February, 16:40 GMT

Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Alun Wyn Jones was portion of nan Twickenham triumphs of 2008, 2012 and 2015 and was Wales' skipper erstwhile they were apical of nan world.

This week he recovered himself sitting successful a assembly gathering successful Swansea - alongside existent and erstwhile players - discussing whether Ospreys would still beryllium a top-tier broadside aft adjacent year.

The news that Ospreys owners Y11 Sport and Media person been named arsenic nan preferred bidder by nan Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to bargain rivals Cardiff, who went into management successful 2025, sent shockwaves done Welsh rugby.

With nan WRU committed to cutting a men's master side, Ospreys' beingness is successful doubt.

The region covers proud rugby areas for illustration Swansea, Neath, Aberavon, Maesteg and Bridgend, and location has been wide disapproval of nan WRU's plans from existent players, coaches and staff, who opportunity they person been near successful nan dark.

There has been governmental condemnation, petitions and protests from supporters and erstwhile players, nationalist meetings and threats of ineligible action from Swansea Council.

As a consequence nan projected restructure of nan Welsh crippled has attracted nan astir headlines successful a troubled Six Nations build-up, tied successful pinch a fascination astir why Welsh rugby has fallen into nan abyss.

English, French and Irish journalists and broadcasters person been travelling to Wales to effort to found nan reasons for nan Welsh crippled being successful specified a state.

In erstwhile years, nan prospects for a Six Nations opener against England astatine Twickenham, now called nan Allianz Stadium, would person filled airwaves and file inches.

On this occasion, nan lucifer has not been mentioned successful Wales arsenic overmuch arsenic nan off-the-field issues affecting Welsh rugby.

The belief successful a immense gulf betwixt nan rivals has led to alarmingly fewer giving Tandy's squad a dream against an England broadside who embarrassed Wales 10 months agone pinch a 10-try, 68-14 demolition triumph successful Cardiff.

The request for alteration is evident moreover if group vehemently disagree connected really it should beryllium achieved, pinch nary fans wanting to suffer their team.

Wales topped nan world rankings concisely successful 2019 and won nan Six Nations title 2 years later.

It has been an alarming diminution since, isolated from for a tally to nan 2023 World Cup quarter-finals.

The slump is nan consequence of nan almost corporate status of a aureate procreation of players.

The WRU deficiency of finance successful nan master sides successful caller years and nan pathway intended to create nan adjacent raft of stars has besides contributed.

Wales men person mislaid 21 retired of their past 23 internationals, pinch their only victories coming against Japan.

The various defeats included an unprecedented 18-match Test losing series and grounds location losses against England, Argentina and South Africa.

Wales person not won a Six Nations lucifer since March 2023, erstwhile they hit Italy successful Rome, pinch a grounds of 11 successive defeats resulting successful 2 winless tournaments and consecutive Wooden Spoons.

Wales person not won a location Six Nations crippled since defeating Scotland successful February 2022.

It is nan Principality Stadium shape wherever Wales' plight could beryllium astir visible during nan adjacent six weeks. Wales person location matches against France, Scotland and Italy, pinch summons income slow.

More than 50% of Welsh rugby's turnover comes from gross from Wales men's internationals.

Fans stepping distant could deed nan Welsh crippled successful nan pocket. But stepping distant they are and rugby is nary longer nan be-all and end-all successful Welsh sport.

Last month, a parliamentary committee looking into nan authorities of Welsh rugby was told by WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood that nan assemblage retains nan support of nan fans.

That raised much than a fewer eyebrows, while Collier-Keywood is facing nan imaginable of a ballot of no-confidence astatine a imaginable bonzer wide gathering pinch existent religion and spot successful nan governing assemblage questionable.

The national says it is trying to toggle shape nan struggling Welsh crippled by making difficult decisions, including nan nonaccomplishment of a master side.

It argues 2 captious elements needed to prolong 4 beardown teams are successful short supply: capable money and value players.

There are those who uncertainty nan rationale down losing a squad and galore who judge nan national lacks nan capacity and knowledge to oversee nan immense project.

The WRU's continued soundlessness is besides a problem, pinch nary interviews fixed for nan past fewer months by nan hierarchy.

There person only been statements, prompting accusations of small transparency aliases clarity levelled astatine nan governing body.

The continued controversies are not precisely mounting up Wales' players to succeed.

Former Wales and British and Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts is 1 of nan 12 WRU committee members.

He is 1 of nan nation's astir dressed up players successful nan master era but is now known for his national role.

So Roberts was portion of nan committee that voted for nan culling of 1 region and for Ospreys' owners to return complete Cardiff, decisions which could lend to ending Ospreys' clip arsenic a master side.

Ospreys fans made their feelings known astatine a peaceful, but forceful, protestation earlier past week's derby against Dragons successful Bridgend, wherever Roberts was moving arsenic a tv pundit and was booed by location supporters.

The move prompted 1 Welsh commentator to remark: "Sport is meant to beryllium fun. Welsh rugby is conscionable truthful toxic."

You cannot impeach Welsh rugby of being boring, but it does not bring overmuch enjoyment correct now.

Whether that tin commencement to alteration this weekend, successful Tandy's first Six Nations crippled successful complaint arsenic Wales purpose to build connected immoderate affirmative aspects of nan erstwhile autumn, remains to beryllium seen.

Tandy has knowledgeable a baptism of occurrence since starting arsenic he intends to rekindle a struggling side, while navigating off-the-field problems that are not of his making.

If he could someway present a triumph complete England and supply 1 of nan biggest upsets successful Welsh rugby history - what a catalyst that could be.

The aforesaid problems would remain, but that glimmer of dream would return. How Welsh rugby needs it.