Two more of Wales’ regional head coaches have been speaking about the challenges presented by the ongoing financial issues in Welsh rugby.
There is currently a freeze on new contracts and recruitment while the WRU and regions continue to negotiate the four teams’ future finances.
That leaves those players and staff who are out of contract in an uncertain situation, amid concerns that there might be an exodus as people look for some job security.
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Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan spoke on Tuesday about how the region couldn’t talk to the 20-odd players whose contracts are up at the end of this season about new deals, amid the impasse. Wales lock Will Rowlands is one of the high-profile figures who could end up leaving the Gwent outfit, with Bath and Racing 92 both reported to be chasing him.
Now Scarlets and Cardiff bosses Dwayne Peel and Dai Young have been giving their thoughts on the situation, as they prepare for URC matches out in South Africa.
Former Wales and Lions scrum-half Peel said: “It definitely doesn’t help when things like this are on your mind. We have around about 20-odd players out of contract and staff members as well. It’s obviously going to be lingering in the back of their minds.
“It’s a concern for everyone. All we can tell players is we can’t negotiate anything and we don’t know where we are going to be in terms of the freeze, but we really want you to stay. It’s difficult to have those conversations without anything tangible at the back of it.
“The longer it goes on, the harder it will be for everyone, but I also do recognise this is an opportunity to get it right. There are five parties in play and when we reach a conclusion it has to be the right one for the future of the game. It needs to be a positive move for everyone.
“We want to be competitive as a region here and I am sure the three other head coaches will tell you the same.”
Outlining the situation at Cardiff, director of rugby Dai Young said: “We have got over 40 per cent of our squad that is coming out of contract this season.
“Of course, there are players within there who I want to keep. We have got a good back bone of the squad, we could do with a little strengthening in certain areas and in an ideal world we would be looking to do that.
“But I couldn’t tell you how the next couple of months are going to unfold. We have no sign of budgets yet and it’s a real uncertain time for players and for coaches. We have got coaches out of contract, we have got staff out of contract.
“It’s not an ideal situation for any of the four regions, we are all in the same boat. The players are now starting to get a bit concerned. If they don’t get a contract where they are, obviously they are going to look for employment elsewhere.
“Until we know where we are, we are all pretty much in the dark really. It’s very difficult to plan your way forward when you haven’t got that certainty. There is currently an embargo on offering players new deals, so we can’t really do anything at the moment.”
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