Welsh clubs hit back at rogue trio refusing to take part in new league

A group of Welsh clubs have taken issue with the arguments of the rogue trio refusing to take part in the new Elite Development Competition.

The Welsh Rugby Union announced in August plans for a 10-club EDC in an attempt to bridge the gap between the semi-professional Premiership and the regional game. Crucially this new competition would come under the remit of the Professional Rugby Board, and each club who wanted to enter had to file an expression of interest to the WRU by October 27.

But Cardiff RFC, Merthyr and Pontypridd formally informed the WRU they would not be submitting an expression of interest with the full backing of their regional side Cardiff Rugby. The three Premiership sides said the proposals would significantly reduce the number of meaningful home games, which in turn would hinder commercial revenue generating opportunities.

READ MORE: WRU announces momentous shake-up as the 12 new people now running Welsh rugby emerge

READ MORE: What a Wales A team would look like if it were to play tomorrow

They also claimed the EDC did not come with a coherent business plan, and also accused the WRU of a lack of consultation with its stakeholders. WalesOnline has seen a statement from Bridgend, Carmarthen Quins, Ebbw Vale, Llandovery, Ebbw Vale, and Swansea, who have thrown their full weight behind the EDC and insist full disclosure was given.

They say they fully respect the decision and rationale given by Cardiff, Merthyr, and Pontypridd at a meeting on October 25 in Aberavon not to enter the EDC but feel they needed to "correct inaccuracies" in what has been put in the public domain. Bridgend, Carmarthen Quins, Ebbw Vale, Llandovery, Ebbw Vale, and Swansea have revealed there were four representatives from the Premiership clubs from each of the four regions in a working and negotiation group with the WRU.

They say regular meetings between the working group and the WRU were held between January 2022 and September 2023 with all Premiership clubs regularly updated. The statement claims the biggest disagreement between the clubs and the WRU was always the optimum number of sides needed to compete in the EDC.

The WRU wanted eight to nine sides while those in the Premiership wanted to remain at 12 clubs. Both parties submitted a great deal of data which led to the acceptance of 10 clubs being the optimum number for the new Elite Domestic Competition to close the gap between pro and semi-pro game. The 10 team Competition was ratified at a full meeting with 11 clubs voting in favour and two voting against.

Early in 2023, the criteria and season structure was known to all, the WRU had presented this at a meeting of Premiership clubs in Aberavon and this was again reiterated by the Premiership representatives in June of this year to the wider group. Both parties had also agreed the principles for selection of the clubs, and how those clubs who missed out on selection for the EDC would be supported in relation to financial compensation via parachute payments, along with taking a places within the new 13 team Community Premiership.

Listen to the latest Welsh rugby podcast

Bridgend, Carmarthen Quins, Ebbw Vale, Llandovery, Ebbw Vale, and Swansea also claim the statement that 14 clubs was the optimum number for the Premiership, and was voted for unanimously by the group is factually incorrect. Those clubs also refute the allegation from the likes of Pontypridd they will be giving up their independence by entering the EDC.

While their regional side will be fully consulted with regards any coaching appointment they say the final say will be with the club. They say one of the key aims of the criteria put together is for the clubs to develop wider and sustainable income streams to run alongside the traditional income of a rugby club.

The statement also questions the role of the Cardiff Rugby regional organisation in backing the three clubs not to apply to take part.

"The process included sign off by the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) after due consideration of the proposal agreed by the WRU and PDC. All four regions are represented on this board and therefore duly consulted. It does not feel correct that all regions have signed off the agreement, yet, we have clubs not applying to enter the league with the action backed by their respective region," the statement adds.

Driving of the commercial strategy of the EDC would begin once the selection was complete, with the clubs having an opportunity to be a partner in this. The season structure has been altered to allow the best alignment for the development of young players for the benefit of the senior Wales team, the regions and the semi-pro clubs.

These clubs accept serious implications on the continuity of rugby for supporters and club sponsors but maintain they will be working hard with the WRU to fill any fixture gaps while also ensuring there will be more than seven home games. They have also revealed they intend to form a cross-border competition.

The three dissenting clubs in the Cardiff region were unhappy with the £150,000 salary cap and wanted it pushed up to £175,000 but the statement claims the number had already been voted on by the Premiership clubs with it not being imposed by the WRU.

"Each of the three clubs electing not to apply for the Elite Domestic Competition has voted in favour of it and for the £150k playing squad ceiling and £60k off field staff ceiling," read a statement signed off by Bridgend, Carmarthen Quins, Llandovery, Ebbw Vale, and Swansea. Read my weekly column in our rugby newsletter

"The PDC has recognised the financial situation within rugby and within Wales generally, it would be extremely odd not to expect semi-pro clubs to make cuts whilst players and staff within the professional game have seen substantial pay cuts and job losses over the last 12 months.

"The WRU has also committed to enforcing this in the levels below to prevent talent dilution at the top of the semi-pro game. The Clubs looks forward to working with the WRU in making the new Elite Domestic Competition a success for the good of Welsh rugby."