WalesOnline has seen an email from the SRC clubs to WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood
The Super Rygbi Cymru clubs have hit back at the Welsh Rugby Union’s plans to centrally appoint the coaching and medical teams of each club.
As part of radical plans to restructure the professional game and the pathway the WRU see the SRC as a vital part of the new system. The WRU has vowed to invest an extra £500k a season into the SRC which equates to an extra £50k per club.
But the WRU then want the power to appoint the head coach and the entire backroom team at all 10 SRC clubs.
However, the SRC clubs are unanimously against the idea of the WRU appointing the coaching teams.
WalesOnline has seen an email sent to WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood from the secretary of the Super Rygbi Cymru group of clubs.
The email says that the SRC clubs are extremely disappointed the WRU have made public announcements on the future of the competition without first consulting with its clubs.
It also emphasises the negative impact this has had on the coaching and medical teams at each club who are worried about their future employment.
“We are disappointed that the WRU has seemingly made these decisions (and certainly gone public with the announcements) without any detailed discussions and negotiations with the SRC clubs,” read the email.
“As clubs, we have all had very concerned coaching and medical staff contacting our management teams asking what is happening and how it will impact on their employment on the assumption that we know more than they do! It has been very difficult and disappointing to tell them that we have had no prior information.
“It is all the more disappointing because as a group of clubs over recent years we have gone out of our way to work positively and constructively with the WRU in implementing the changes that have progressed the SRC so successfully.
“All clubs are unanimously and totally against the concept of centrally appointed and contracted coaching and medical teams.
“We recognise that the WRU is driving for an increase in standards and consistency but we would argue that this can be achieved without the radical change currently proposed.
“If as clubs we are going to be judged by our on field and player development performance we have to have a significant aspect of control over the key staff involved.
“The clubs require written confirmation of a process of negotiation including dates of meetings and a clear timeline by which the matter will be resolved.
“Whilst the initial negotiation will be led by a sub group of the SRC clubs, the timeline should include an opportunity for the Clubs to meet collectively and involve consultation with our coaching and medical teams.
“The clubs also require written confirmation that in future there will be no press releases of any kind relating to the SRC in respect of which the clubs have not been involved in prior consultation or had prior knowledge.”
Large parts of the WRU’s plans to restructure the professional game, which includes reducing the number of professional clubs from four to three, are being widely rejected by key stakeholders in the game.
While most high-ranking figures concede radical change needs to happen a large percentage of strongly oppose the WRU’s desire for absolute control.
The WRU wants to centrally contract every professional player in Wales and want total control over the rugby operations of the three remaining professional clubs despite asking benefactors to continue to plough millions of their own money in.
There is now a real power struggle behind the scenes with the WRU wanting total control over rugby because they see that as the only way to get Welsh rugby back on track.
But there is an historic lack of trust towards the WRU and those within the professional game and now the SRC do not want to give the governing body total control.
The WRU has been approached for comment.