Welsh rugby bosses have been warned about putting the future of the sport in this country at stake amid proposals to change the world's oldest schools rugby competition.
The Dewar Shield is annually contested by under-15s sides from across Wales, with the shield dating back to 1904. In that time, it has been the launchpad for many players towards a professional career in rugby.
However, that is now seemingly at stake as plans are being considered which would see the Dewar Shield changed in order to promote a new-look player pathway in Wales. The proposals seen by WalesOnline would involve making the Dewar Shield, which is currently an U15s competition, contested by under-16s teams.
In its place would be a festival-based competition at U16s level. According to the plans, the Dewar Shield would be formally incorporated into the regional pathway.
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WalesOnline understands that no decision has been made by the Welsh Rugby Union, with the proposals not yet signed off, but that hasn't stopped critics having their say.
"It's like it or lump it, apparently," tweeted former Wales fly-half Lee Jarvis, before, referencing a popular line of rugby league commentary from Mick Morgan often used to express disbelief, adding: "I can't spake."
Another former Wales outside-half, Jonathan Davies, questioned who was making these decisions.
Now, Chris Jones, senior rugby development officer for Rhondda Schools, has expressed his fear over the proposals and what they would mean for the future of Welsh rugby. Jones outlined what makes the Dewar Shield so special, as well as why a shift to U16s level, in his view, wouldn't work.
"The Dewar Shield is respected and envied across the world," he told WalesOnline. "Since I've been involved in the last 30 years, we've taken boys to New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and France and they all envy what we're doing with the Dewar Shield.
"It's a tried and tested development programme for over 120 years. Many greats have played in the Dewar Shield. The so-called golden generation that has just been - Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton, Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar - all played in the Dewar Shield.
"It's respected everywhere. I know from my own personal experience, up in the Rhondda, the Dewar Shield programme has helped to service 11 rugby clubs in the Rhondda Valleys, making them competitive. It's also produced numerous players for Cardiff while we've seen nine boys go on to play international rugby, including one British Lion, since 2005. The Dewar Shield programme plays a massive part in that development.
"So why get rid of that or move it to U16 level where they play over three months, with all the problems that cause school senior rugby? I said in the meetings that we can call the FA Cup the Dewar Shield, but it's not the Dewar Shield.
"I and many others don't think the problems lie with the Dewar Shield. There's an exodus of Welsh players up to England. We have lost six boys to Bath from last year's Dewar Shield. They're playing against other boys from all parts of Wales when they play for the English academies.
"There's boys going to school there because they feel they're going to be given something better in the rugby programmes there. Some boys drop into football. And then there's the problems with the Wales age-grade groups and the fact we were whitewashed at U20s and the U18s and U19s got hammered by England and Italy respectively.
"It's massively concerning. But for those who have been involved in the Dewar Shield, we could have predicted this because of policies that have been imposed on us for the last 10 years. The dumbing down of the DC Thomas U11s Cup, getting rid of district U12s, U13s and U14s, almost making the current Dewar Shield programme unrecognisable to a traditional Dewar Shield and getting rid of Wales U16s.
"All those things have caused problems. A traditional U15s Dewar Shield programme sort of met all the needs. It was the Dewar Shield competition played over the course of a season, interspersed with friendlies.
"That meant that the better players were challenged in the Dewar Shield, while the other boys in the squad - who were maybe later developers - could play as well in the friendlies. But that has been restricted in the last couple of years and friendlies have been frowned upon.
"So it's no wonder that we're in the state that we're in. It's sad. It saddens me massively. The problems lie at the next level up from U15s and the Dewar Shield age-group. There's maybe a lack of intensity or heart in the U16s regional programme, which maybe needs addressing.
"To chuck the baby out with the bathwater is just sheer madness. A lot of the other guys feel the same. I am absolutely appalled and distraught at the policies that are going to be imposed."
As outlined in the proposals, the Dewar Shield for U16s would run between September and December in the school year, with Jones adding that U15s would be training without meaningful games in the same period.
"There's also schools rugby to think about," he said. "We've been told that players won't be allowed to play senior schools rugby. If you talk to schools teachers, that basically means the end of senior schools rugby in Wales for most schools. It's a sad situation. A lot of people are unhappy about it. It just seems the policies have been imposed and that's it, which is concerning."
The proposals also refer to different age-groups and how they can be targeted to suit development. Referred to as a phase-based approach, the ages of 14-16 are deemed the "talent discovery phase", where exploring potential is the main objective.
Then ages 16-18 are the "talent development phase", with learning to compete being the goal. Ages 17-23 are the "performance development phase" where learning to win is the aim, before an open age range for the "senior professional phase" where winning is the main goal.
However, Jones isn't convinced by the lack of competitive rugby within that first bracket.
"That's going against human nature," he added. "Kids want to be involved in competition. They need aspiration.
"I think the football academies are showing that. The kids are flocking into them and they're involved in competition from U7s. From speaking to parents up here, a lot are saying they don't want to be involved in this as there's no point.
"The fact is that kids want to be involved in competing. Often it seems like the better players in rugby are penalised. That doesn't happen in any other sport and it doesn't happen in school. Kids are put into sets based on their abilities. It seems strange that we find that difficult to cope with in rugby union in Wales.
"The Dewar Shield at U15 level was like a flagship of junior development in Wales. Of course, all kids want to play for Wales. But that's a million miles away to a kid. The Dewar Shield isn't that far away for a kid.
"But then you push it back a bit further and it starts to clash with other things at U16s. I just don't understand why they don't deal with the situation at U16s and continue to run the programme at U15s as it is. It's tried and tested. These proposals are untried.
"It doesn't make sense. Just replicate what's happening the Dewar Shield at U16s. That would makes sense. Even improve it. All the coaches say it's an intense programme at U15 level. Obviously there isn't the pressures that an U16 player has, with exams and commitments into senior school rugby and youth rugby. All those things get affected by this. It just doesn't make sense to me.
"We have to be careful. We're tinkering with things that could mean the future of Welsh rugby is at stake. Once the pipeline goes awry, we've got problems."
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