It’s always a time of sad farewells at this point in the year, with players leaving clubs at the end of the season. But never before has Welsh rugby’s departure lounge been so full, with so many goodbyes to be said. We already have no fewer than 41 players confirmed as exiting the four regions, with the Ospreys yet to announce their released roster. There is some serious squad trimming going on, with numbers going down from the mid-50s to the mid-40s in some cases.
So what’s going on? Why is there so much movement out of the door? Well, there are two key factors. With no United Rugby Championship matches on international weekends, the regions don’t need to carry so many players any more. Then there are the financial pressures coming out of Covid, amid uncertainty over WRU payments and a £20m loan to be paid off. It all means the regions are having to cut their cloth according to their means.
We have spoken to all four of them to get their take on the situation. This is what they had to say.
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Dragons
When Dean Ryan was asked this week how the Gwent region were affording their high-profile signings, he explained there would be more players leaving than arriving. He has been true to his word. While 10 players have been recruited, there are 20 departing in all, with 16 announced to add to the four who have already gone during the season, as the likes of Jonah Holmes, Adam Warren, Dan Baker, Greg Bateman, Joe Maksymiw and Max Williams move on.
“This year is probably the biggest shift in squads that Wales has experienced for a long time,” said Director of Rugby Ryan.
“We’ve got to balance what we’ve got as a budget and that’s not increased in any shape or form. If we invest in more people, we’ve got to reduce our head-count. So, sadly, we have a lengthy list of departures. Nobody enjoys those type of situations. It’s an incredibly difficult part of the job, but it’s a reality of pro sport and change.
“We must make difficult decisions if we want change. We have to change the quality of the people available to us week-in, week-out and so the balance of the squad has to change. This is not an easy year. There are challenges in all the regions.”
Outlining the thinking behind the reduction in squad numbers, Ryan confirmed it was a combination of the season structure and finances.
“Playing less games during the internationals and having the best players available more often is definitely a drive for URC,” he said.
“The balance between how we support Wales preparations and play competitively in the league is a delicate one. We have to reduce squad numbers, as of finances. There will be a number of times when we are supporting Wales in terms of player release where our squad number will get challenged. There sits the majority of conversations around how those two work in tandem and that will be as difficult as it’s ever been next year.”
Cardiff
In all, there are 12 players leaving the Arms Park, including the likes of Rhys Gill, Jason Tovey, Will Boyde, Garyn Smith and the retiring Hallam Amos.
Big name signings have been made with Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams, Thomas Young and Lopeti Timani coming on board for next season, but overall there will be a significant reduction in squad size.
Director of rugby Dai Young said: “The league has changed. We don’t have the same amount of games as we had and we are not playing over Test periods much.
“There’s not so many matches where you are without your internationals as there were previously. So you don’t need a squad of 57. You needed that type of number previously because you can lose 11 players to Wales duty. But now, without league matches on Test weekends, that isn’t the case. The internationals are available for more of the URC season and you don’t need as much cover for them.
“No teams can afford to carry players that are simply not playing. So, unfortunately, we are going to see good players leaving and that’s part and parcel of professional sport. We’ve got to make those decisions on the basis of where we are today.
“I think we are down to about 45, 46 for next season. For me, an ideal number in the current circumstances would be anything between 42 and 45. I don’t think we need any more players than that really. There’s also the fact that you are spending money on fewer players, so you would like to think the quality will increase as well.”
With squad numbers reducing, it doesn’t look as though there will be the scope to field regional A teams, as was the case for a couple of seasons with the Celtic Cup.
Outlining Cardiff’s situation, Young said: “The decision was made at board level that our second team or our development team was going to be the Cardiff Premiership side, the Rags.
“All our Academy were going to come through them and we were not going to be a part of any A team structure moving forward. We’ve got our first team and our second team with the Rags. That’s where our pathway is now. Unless I am told different, the A team format isn’t something we will be taking part in.”
Scarlets
Nine players are leaving the Scarlets, including the Cardiff-bound Liam Williams, plus Rob Evans and Angus O’Brien, who are both off to the Dragons, with former captain Steff Hughes and Welsh international centre Tyler Morgan also departing, along with the retiring James Davies.
Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “It is obviously difficult. You have guys that have contributed massively to the region. From my end, it’s a very difficult decision to make.
“But the reality of our situation is we had to reduce the size of the squad, we had to reduce the size of the budget and we have to make those decisions. It’s unfortunate but it’s the reality of professional sport I suppose. We thank those guys for the great service they have given to the club and wish them the best for what comes next for them.
“We have reduced the squad by nine or ten this year. We have quality coming through and we have to rely on the younger players in our production line. Having a smaller squad obviously puts strain on at times, especially round the international periods, but it does give you a bit more cohesion and it means players have to be robust.”
Ospreys
They are yet to announce their departure list, but chief executive Nick Garcia has been speaking about the thinking that goes into determining squad size.
He said: “Covid was a whole other ball game. I’m hopeful we’re through that as it was incredibly challenging for matches and training. We had Covid rip through the squad before Christmas. It was tough on the players in terms of isolation and stuff like that. That’s been brutal but we’re hopefully through it.
“In terms of the size of the squad, the thing for us is having the right squad and an efficient squad. Until the new governing structure for Welsh rugby is decided, we don’t really know the answers to those questions. But it’s not just about match-day, it’s about training as well and maintaining intensity there which is really important to us. But we’re quite happy with the squad we’ve got now.”
