Former England fly-half and rugby pundit Stuart Barnes believes axing a Welsh pro team, reducing the number to three, would only quicken the decline of the sport in this country.
Barnes, who represented Wales at schoolboy level and played for Newport early in his career, also bemoaned Wales' 'unhealthy obsession' with the national team as the pro game assesses where to turn next. He also believes the regional concept, moving away from traditional clubs, was the wrong one for Wales in the first place.
Problems have been bubbling under the surface for quite some time in Wales, covered by the relative success of the national team. However, defeat to Italy - the first time it has happened on Welsh soil - earlier this year blew the lid off the issues. Things have come to a head with proposals put forward that the way to progress in Wales is to slash the number of pro teams from four to three.
