The meeting was attended by representatives of the four Welsh Regions (Blues – Robert Norster; Dragons – Andy Marinos; Ospreys – Roger Blyth; Scarlets – Stuart Gallacher) the WRU General Manager, Steve Lewis, the WRU Administration and Finance General Manager, Alan Hamer, the WRU Player Development Manager, Mostyn Richards, and the WRU Chairman, David Pickering.
The meeting was chaired by David Pickering and discussed a wide ranges of topics affecting professional rugby in Wales including the Rugby Charter, Regional playing squads, ERC and Celtic League matters.
A vote was taken on who should represent the regions on the ERC and Celtic League boards from July, 2005. It was decided that Andy Marinos, chief executive of the Dragons, will take over from Stuart Gallacher, chief executive of the Scarlets, as the group’s ERC representative for the next two year term and that Ospreys director Roger Blyth will replace Blues chief executive, Robert Norster, on the Celtic League board following his decision to stand down.
“It was good to get everyone together and to get the first meeting of this very important new body under our belts. There will be monthly meetings from now on and everything and anything to do with the professional game will be up for debate,” said Pickering. “The lines of communication between the regions, the Union, ERC and the Celtic League need to be improved and enhanced and these monthly meetings will allow us to do that.
“We had a good debate on the Rugby Charter and were pleased to hear from the Scarlets that they are fully committed to it and do not intend to breach either the spirit or the letter of the law concerning the regulations on foreign players.
“There is a huge commitment from all the regions to develop home grown talent and the academies they are putting in place in conjunction with the WRU should ensure a steady stream of young professionals in the near future.”
Commenting on the changes in regional representation on the ERC and Celtic League boards, Pickering added: “I would like to thank Stuart Gallacher and Robert Norster for the service they have given to date. By the time Stuart steps down from the ERC board he will have served European rugby with distinction for seven years.
“He has done a remarkable job in keeping a strong Welsh influence in the ERC boardroom in difficult times and he will be a tough act to follow. The same is true of Robert, who has played a key role in the on-going development of the Celtic League.”
