Former chairman of semi-professional rugby club Cardiff RFC, Chris Norman, has called for a funding reset to ensure its survival with it becoming a standalone entity a potential option.
Mr Norman, who played for Cardiff RFC in the 1980s and runs his own mechanical and electrical engineering firm ISTL Engineering, said the current arrangement that sees the semi-professional side being operated through Cardiff Rugby (which is one of the four Welsh regions) was not sustainable with a £100,000 shortfall identified to run a competitive squad.
It comes as the WRU is looking to press ahead with plans for a new elite league between the Premiership and the regions. The Premiership clubs, where Llanelli RFC recently announced it could not afford to field a team in the league next season, currently receive £50,000 each from governing body the Welsh Rugby Union - although if a new elite league of eight is created that could increase to £110,000.
