3 weeks ago the WRU told us "it's fine, buying habits have changed". I called it Survivorship Bias at the time.
WRU have spent a decade pricing out rugby fans, and now tourist fans don't want to watch Wales get slaughtered.
Chickens. Roost. #RucktheWRU
www.cityam.com/exclusive-we...
c.org/VkVNXTP8VS Calling all Rugby fans, get it signed, show the WRU the extent of the outrage.
#Ospreys #Rugby #RuckTheWRU
It’s incredible to see some people still making excuses for the WRU. This is for you.
(In this case, the Union is the enemy. But the point still stands).
#WhichSideAreYouOn #RuckTheWRU
youtu.be/vbddqXib814?...
It's amazing how EVERYTHING the WRU claims - whether directly or via their extensive leaking network - explodes immediately on contact with reality. Less than 24 hours later, almost everything they told the Welsh Affairs Committee has been cast into doubt.
#RuckTheWRU
Grant - please don't manage our decline
And that's it.
Will be interesting to see how the supporter reps found that - did they feel they had enough chance to get their points across?
#RuckTheWRU
Question - what would your one plea to the WRU be?
Dan - Be open - don't leave a vacuum where other stories can seep in
Lynn - same - more openness and fewer rumours. Communicate quickly
Iwan - consider effect on communities, socio-economic factors
#RuckTheWRU
Dan - women's game needs huge investment to build something which is fit for purpose
Grant - brands need to be easily identified.
Lynn - we're lagging behind football in terms of women's representation
#RuckTheWRU
Question on women's teams and alignment to regions - seems to be a mismatch.
Iwan & Lynn - agree - should be aligned with existing regions to build identity and support
#RuckTheWRU
Question from Ruth Jones (not that one) about Ospreys Supporters club survey on their supporter demographics - not sure what the point of that was.
There's no Ospreys supporters in Cardiff. Shock horror.
#RuckTheWRU
Question on hub officers and how community engagement across large Scarlets region:
Iwan - would be a massive loss if Scarlets disappeared. Also economic benefits would be lost, suppliers, etc.
#RuckTheWRU
Lynn and Grant - clarity is needed urgently
What would happen to Swansea valley clubs if Ospreys ceased to exist?
Grant - irreparable damage to community clubs and pathway
#RuckTheWRU
Question from Ben Lake on Cardiff purchase
Lynn - we're frustrated and concerned on Y11 and what it means for Cardiff and other clubs. Too much secrecy. Leaks are also a problem.
Grant - massive turmoil - lack of information is a huge problem.
#RuckTheWRU
Grant - bigger crowds build sponsorship and revenue
Lynn - we're seeing death of away support because of the amount of travel needed - £££ cost
Iwan - trip to SA is expensive - last time I went there were 200 of us. But for the Northampton game there were several bus loads.
#RuckTheWRU
Ann Davies - what should WRU be doing to make pro game more popular - is it getting out of URC and going into PREM - for more local rivalries and travelling support?
HARD AGREE from all
#RuckTheWRU
Dan - clubs have worked very hard to build identities over the last 20 years. Players come from wide base in each region. Removing one would cause big problems.
Will young fans lose interest if a team is cut?
Dan - yes - no appetite for mergers or alternative teams.
#RuckTheWRU
Lynn - we need to retain existing supporters as well as attracting new ones.
Grant - our clubs all have a long heritage which extends back further than pro rugby. But we also have fans who have only ever supported the regional teams. It'll affect community and semi-pro clubs too.
#RuckTheWRU
Lynn (Cardiff) - fans are passionate - we care. That's why the length of time everything has taken and the historical neglect from the WRU is making us angry.
Iwan (Scarlets) - our members are against everything in the WRU's proposals. Losing a team would leave a huge gap culturally. #RuckTheWRU
Grant (Ospreys) - we all agree change is needed, but the way the WRU has approached the whole thing is muddled. Elite rugby is suffering because of mis-management.
Dan (Dragons) - we've not been the best on field but we have a strong ownership group & own our ground.
#RuckTheWRU
Time for the fans reps - one from each club
Question from Ruth Jones (not that one)
Why have the WRU's proposals caused outrage and what do you dispute?
#RuckTheWRU
And that's it for part 1.
Overall I think they managed to waffle around the difficult stuff and weren't pressed hard enough, especially around the matter of the Ospreys, Y11 and Cardiff.
I hope they don't cut part 2 short, and that the fans' reps are given a fair crack of the whip.
#RuckTheWRU
Llinos Medi (Ynys Môn) - WRU haven't done anything about grassroots and women / girls game in North Wales.
Cloud over WRU is turning young people away from the sport.
RCK - the data says we're under investing in north Wales. We're going to do something about that.
#RuckTheWRU
Abi is excited by the Nations Cup.
God help us.
#RuckTheWRU
Abi - we care more about the other teams in the URC than we do about our own fans.
THat's what she's saying.
#RuckTheWRU
RCK on PREM
We have committed to URC. End of story.
We haven't received invitation - of course you haven't, because you haven't fucking asked!!!
#RuckTheWRU
Question from Gerald Merthyr on URC vs PREM
Abi - it's the URC for the foreseeable.
Completely side-steps the PREM question. They haven't even bothered asking.
#RuckTheWRU
Question from Gerald Merthyr on URC vs PREM
Abi - it's the URC for the foreseeable.
Completely side-steps the PREM question. They haven't even bothered asking.
#RuckTheWRU
RCK - "If I was a private investor, would I invest? Yes, because I love rugby."
But you're guaranteed to lose your money.
Brilliant plan.
#RuckTheWRU
RCK on regional investors - we want current levels of private investment plus an additional slice going back to the WRU to cover rugby operations costs.
How the fuck is that going to fly?
#RuckTheWRU
