Following last weekend’s EGM, the WRU have announced a ballot on one of the major issues that caused the meeting in Port Talbot. A ballot of all Welsh Rugby Union clubs is to take place, asking which National League structure format for the amateur game they would prefer to see adopted, from next season.
The clubs saw many issues with the current league structure and expressed them at the EGM. Issues that varied from travel distances and costs, to the way progress up the league structure works.
A new National League structure was proposed based on the findings of a WRU working party, recommending a new format. The structure was approved last year by the Board of Directors.
However, since the EGM, these plans have been thrown up in the air and clubs will now have the chance to voice their own opinion, before the WRU Board finalises any decision on the league structure for next season.
WRU Chairman, David Pickering, said: “The ballot will now take place so that all our member clubs can express their preferences.” This is ironically something that David Moffett, was keen on the member clubs doing. Although he lost the EGM, perhaps he has left a lasting impression once again on the face of Welsh rugby.
Pickering went on to say that “at the EGM strong views were expressed on all sides of the argument so it is vitally important the WRU finds out what the majority viewpoint is on this issue.” This is a good move by the WRU as they are devolving some power down to the clubs and allowing them to decide their own destiny. Pickering explained that, “Any change to our league structure is a radical move which affects the whole of the community game and the WRU must be prepared to listen to the voice of the clubs.”
The WRU have not had the best reputation in recent times, this move is certainly trying to kerb that perception. Pickering asserts that the WRU “are a listening Union and although it means we have to move quickly and gather the latest feedback at this stage of the off-season we are prepared to engage directly with the clubs on this crucial issue.”
It does seem that the EGM has played a major role in pushing the WRU to interact with their clubs as Pickering says “at the weekend I promised that we would be prepared to take on board the views of the clubs on important issues and this is example of us listening and then acting accordingly.”
The question is whether they have been so willing to listen had David Moffett not forced the EGM in the first place, you can draw your own conclusions on that issue.
Details of the ballot will be sent to clubs on Wednesday and the feedback will be considered by the full Board of the WRU as soon as possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment