In the biggest survey of its kind ever focused on rugby in Wales, ten major findings were pinpointed which indicate what the Premiership players, administrators and coaches believe to be the way forward for the semi-professional level of the Welsh game and the issues it faces.
The survey, carried out by two senior academics from the Cardiff School of Sport at the University of Wales Institute has taken three months to complete.
Representatives of all 14 Premiership clubs took part with the aim of investigating and exploring the effectiveness of the division which includes some of the most famous name clubs in world rugby.
The findings will now be considered by a review panel, made up of representatives from the Premier Division, the four professional Regions and the Welsh Rugby Union, which will deliver its recommendations for action to the WRU Board.
Representatives of the panel have emphasised that findings within the review report will form the basis of a full and frank internal debate before a policy for the future is unveiled by the WRU Board.
Their discussion will also take into account reviews also currently underway into the elite and the community games in Wales.
WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said, “The evidence gathered in this thorough and far-reaching review will provide the panel with invaluable information on how to ensure the Premiership achieves sustainable success in the future.
“I promised transparency in our work 16 months ago on taking up my appointment. This review is the most extensive and open undertaken by the Union. It is the first of the reviews into our game and the grass roots and elite reviews will be published when they are ready.
“The Premiership Panel and the board of the WRU now have to closely examine the findings of this review to ensure the right decisions are made to deliver what is best for the whole of Welsh rugby going forward.
The Chairman of the WRU Premiership Review Panel, Mostyn Richards, said: “This is a major study which has gathered evidence from all the major stakeholders within the Premier Division.
“A lot of hard work will now be needed to ensure we consider the findings in full detail before making key recommendations on how the division should develop.”
Some of the key findings could be embraced or discarded by the panel and the board which are charged with delivering a strong and sustainable Premier Division for Welsh rugby linked to the rest of the game in Wales.
Within the issues identified by the reviewers as central to the future effectiveness of the division, a majority of participants felt that if the Premiership was to achieve its purpose, the number of clubs should be reviewed.
A small majority suggested the Premiership should be ‘ring fenced’ though some acknowledged the importance of providing a periodic opportunity for promotion or relegation every few years.
An overwhelming majority advocated the introduction of a Regional ‘A’ team competition involving some six mid-week games a year.
The introduction of more Premiership club competitions such as play-offs, a cross border competition and entry into the second tier European competition was suggested by some review respondents.
An overwhelming majority of all participants suggested the need for greater equity and consistency in the treatment of Premiership clubs by their regions. More stringent control of the number of players eligible for Wales in the division was advocated by a significant proportion which amounted to almost half those questioned.
A general view emerged that the Premiership needed more exposure, particularly by broadcasters, and an increase in funding.
There were also calls for the introduction of a more effective player permit system. A system of age control to favour the development of emerging and younger talent was favoured by an overwhelming majority.
The WRU Elite Performance Director, Graeme Maw and the Head of Rugby Development, Nigel Davies welcomed the review and stressed the need for refinement and evolution to ensure the future success of Premiership rugby in Wales as part of the wider elite game.
The 39 page review was researched and prepared by Professor Scott Fleming and Dr Lynne Evans who surveyed some 295 players and interviewed more than 70 other officials and representatives in focus groups lasting for up to one and a half hours.
Professor Fleming said, “We targeted our discussions at exploring whether the Premiership in its current form is effective and what can and should be done to make it more efficient and successful.
“This was the largest independent survey of its kind ever carried out for the Welsh Rugby Union and we hope the document we have published conveys the strength of feeling expressed by the participants in their support for the concept of a successful Premiership.”
Dr Evans added: “The people we interviewed as part of this review were universally passionate in their commitment to a successful Premier Division and were generous and open with the information they were willing to provide.
“They welcomed the opportunity of being able to share their views and made it abundantly clear they want the Premiership to work for Welsh rugby.”
Professor Fleming and Dr Evans have presented their findings to the review panel in full and the panel will now consider it before making recommendations in the weeks ahead.
Premier Division Chairman, Chris Clarke, said: “We are delighted that the Welsh Rugby Union commissioned this independent review and all our clubs are grateful for the opportunity to have had their voices heard.
“We will now work closely with the WRU to decide on the best recommendations to take us forward so we can continue nurturing and developing the talent the game in Wales needs.”
