Jeff Probyn: Why I’m backing the WRU in showdown with regions

As if the Greek tragedy of the European Cup was not enough we now have a Welsh suicide pact that seems destined to create mayhem across the game in the Northern Hemisphere. With Ospreys and Scarlets both currently being investigated by the EU over funding irregularities you would think it was hardly the time to be engaging in a high-stakes gamble with your major funding provider (the WRU) – but an offer from Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL) seems to have set them on a collision course.
The dilemma caused by the suggestion that PRL and BT will somehow combine to fund the four rebellious regions in place of the WRU if they don't sign the participation agreement, could have far reaching and damaging consequences for the sport as a whole.
Logic says that if the regions refuse to sign and the WRU follow through with its threat to disband the current regional teams, the WRU would probably form new ones to take their places in both the Rabo and Heineken.
That would leave the current regions no longer a part of the Welsh Union, so they would therefore have to apply to another Union for membership in order to be able to compete in that country's league system.
It is usual for any team that applies to join a Union to start at the bottom of the league structure and works its way up, something I am sure none of the current Welsh regions would be prepared or able to do.
If it were the English league system they joined and they started at the bottom of the league, working your way up to the Premiership would take years, even if you were to gain promotion year on year.
So unless they were to get a special dispensation from the RFU that would be bound to cause a storm of protest from the lower leagues, they would be unable to fulfil any agreement to play in the Premiership.
If the WRU were to disband the regions, any agreement with the Premiership re promotion and relegation would also have to be reassessed because even if they were allowed to join the English leagues and were given that special dispensation to play in the Premiership, they would be subject to the RFU rules which currently include unfettered promotion and relegations.
It is highly unlikely that the RFU or any other Union would want to become embroiled in this row and would therefore be very reluctant to sanction the inclusion of any teams disbanded or abandoned by the WRU in their own leagues.
That could cause problems for the RFU considering it was PRL who it would seem have encouraged the regions not to sign but join them in a competition which at this time still doesn't exist.
What puzzles me is, even with the new BT deal, the vast majority of Premiership clubs will still struggle to break even let alone make a profit, so how can they afford to pay the Welsh regions £16m per season, unless they put the squeeze on the RFU for some extra cash.
I must admit to feeling a certain admiration for the stance that the WRU have taken despite the implied threats to its national side.
By drawing a line in the sand and sticking to it they are showing not just the regions but also the rugby world that they are in control of the game in Wales and will do what they believe is best for Welsh rugby as a whole.
The regions, if we believe what has been published, seem to think that by linking up with the Premiership and using the extra income generated to pay players higher salaries in an attempt to keep them in Wales would be good for the all areas of the game.
I believe that nothing could be further from the truth as all it would do is drive up the salaries for all when the reality is that none can afford what they are already paying.
If the regions get their way the game would become trapped in a never ending spiral of disputes between clubs and country over how the money generated by the international game should be split.
That would probably result in more being taken from monies put aside for the amateur game and development of the sport to help fill the yawning gap in the
coffers of the professional clubs as they struggle in a vain attempt to keep their star players from the cash-rich clubs in the French league.
Much as the regions would hate to admit it, it would probably be better for them if the WRU were to take over the elite players such as Leigh Halfpenny, Sam Warburton and Alun-Wyn Jones with central contracts and leave them to fund the rest.
That could effectively reduce some of the regions wage bill by half enabling them to increase the size of their playing squads which in turn would improve their chances of success in both the Rabo pro12 and Heineken Cup.
It would enable them to use some of the savings to fund the building of their brands and improving community work in a bid to increase their supporter base and help fill the stadiums on a regular basis.
It would also benefit the WRU as they would contract only Welsh-qualified elite players and have more control of the games they play, making sure that they are rested and prepared for internationals in the way that the national coach wants.
For players, there would be a security of tenure they don't really have at the moment given the doubts over the future of the regions, while ensuring that they will maximise their playing and earning potential by remaining in Wales.
For that to happen the regions would have to commit to the WRU but the truth is that if they want to survive and prosper, they really don't have a choice.