David Moffett’s Post

#4 of 4 on the future of Welsh Rugby - The most important. Bring Passion Back to Grassroots Rugby Welsh rugby’s soul lies in its grassroots. Every village, school, and community club is a seedbed for future talent and fan engagement. Yet, for years, grassroots rugby has been neglected in favour of top-down initiatives that fail to resonate. I would redirect significant funding and attention to grassroots rugby, ensuring clubs have the resources to thrive. This means subsidizing coaching, improving facilities, and fostering inclusivity—not as a politically correct tick-box exercise but as a genuine commitment to growing the game. The WRU must inspire the next generation by investing in youth programs that are visible, accessible, and aspirational. Rugby in Wales should be a national movement, not a corporate monolith. In addition, it is a national disgrace that, even now, there are no Welsh coaches being considered to replace Gatland. Surely this is the most glaring failure of Welsh Rugby. They have spent nothing on bringing through Welsh coaches, mostly in favour of NZ solutions. Look at Scotland and what Gregor Townsend has achieved and where they sit in comparison to Wales, oh and they only have 2 pro teams. But hang on Welsh parochialism would insist on more not fewer teams. Therein lies the difference.

As someone who has followed Welsh rugby for over 40 years and remains a season ticket-holder at Cardiff Rugby as well as vice-president of my home club, Pwllheli RFC, I understand the passion and emotion that surround the game. It’s a sport deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of Wales, and decisions about its future will always be contentious. As the great Cliff Morgan once said: “In Wales, every man, woman and child is a selector” and as a result, it’s always controversial to discuss Welsh rugby, particularly during what many believe to be a genuine crisis. So it’s not surprising that a recent article from rugby great Jonathan Davies OBE has attracted both plaudits and critics. However, one thing is clear, namely that the current model is unsustainable and that change must happen and that the WRU - Welsh Rugby Union must take a strategic approach to assessing such proposals, not only from the perspective of rugby tradition, but also through the lens of governance, financial sustainability, and long-term impact. Welsh rugby is at a crossroads and by embracing change and adopting business best practice, the sport has the potential to rebuild and ensure its legacy. However, this will need the WRU to act decisively and develop a strategy for a more sustainable future. If it does not, then as Jonathan Davies warns, it could be in decline for a generation.

An invaluable few days at Rugby Australia engaging with some quality people. Rugby in Australia is poised for a transformative decade with landmark events on the horizon: the 2025 Lions Tour, the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, and the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup. These events are set to elevate the game both domestically, in the Pacific and globally. Since Rugby Australia’s strategic reset & recharge last year, it is evident that planning and execution towards achieving their goals on and off the field are well underway. The forward-thinking concepts, initiatives, and programs within their performance and community development efforts are world-class. In one of the most competitive sporting landscapes this is a significant undertaking by one of our key Member Unions. With the continued alignment of vital stakeholders and the ongoing support of valued partners, the journey ahead for rugby in Australia and the Pacific looks both exciting and promising. #leadership #partnership #movingthegameforward World Rugby Oceania Rugby

A very disappointing day for rugby in Australia. It seems history is set to repeat itself with another Australian Super Rugby Team ceasing to exist. It is naive to think reducing the professional contracting opportunities by 20% will increase depth and competition. The NRL and AFL have 17 and 18 teams respectively, Rugby will have 4. Which code do you think juniors will steer towards? A 1/4 chance or a 1/17 or 1/18, less career opportunities will equal less depth as potential players seek certainty and better odds of making it professional. How could a governing body be ignorant to a franchise operating insolvent for multiple years? I question whether this failure of corporate governance raises more concerns for the future of professional rugby in Australia.

We've all been buzzing since winning a Rugby Black List award and feel more than ever that serious discussion and action needs to be taken around this fundamental question: "If rugby in England wants to engage with diverse communities how will this be achieved if diverse communities have no access to rugby?" In highly populated urban areas the required space for schools and clubs to play rugby on doesn't exist in sufficient amounts. Interesting fact - 50% of the total BAME population in England live in 3 cities. London, Birmingham & Manchester. Any thoughts? Also consider that you can't start to fudge the game (which is something the powers that be are currently working on) to create 5 a side touch and call it rugby. The beauty of rugby as we know it is that all shapes and sizes have an equal and important part to play on the pitch. Without this element it simply isn't rugby.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure in my capacity as DoR at Farnham Rugby Club spend some time with the Director of Rugby from Guildford Rugby Club - Aidan Turns. A great meeting (as all the previous meetings from my local clubs have been) and enlightening on so many fronts!! A couple of headlines... 1. The Reality of Building a Rugby Legacy - Guildford Rugby Club has evolved from humble beginnings in 1922 to a thriving hub for rugby excellence. This growth is a testament to the dedication of players, coaches, volunteers and its community. 2. We discussed the Do’s and Don’ts of Rugby Club development... Don’ts: ❌ Don’t overlook the importance of youth development. ❌ Don’t neglect facility upgrades. ❌ Don’t be afraid to be a leader - deal with all manner of day to day ‘rugby stuff’ that lacks integrity or not within our sports values. Do’s: ✅ Invest in youth rugby (girls & boys) - it's important!!. ✅ Continuously upgrade facilities and look after your finances robustly. ✅ Foster a sense of community - always!! Guildford Rugby Club’s success stems from these core principles and in no small measure I am sure, down to Aidan and his team. Good luck over the forthcoming season (not to much luck - obviously🙏😂😂)!! #RugbySuccess #GuildfordRugby #ClubDevelopment #RugbyLegacy #GuildfordRugby #Commitment

#2 Strengthening Welsh Rugby Beneath the Pro Game The heart of Welsh Rugby has always been its grassroots—local clubs, schools, and communities where players first fall in love with the game. But for too long, the connection between the community and the professional game has been fragmented. It’s time to rebuild that bridge with a clear, sustainable structure beneath the pro game. Semi-Professional Rugby: A strong semi-pro system governed by three districts (Llanelli, Cardiff, and Newport)(not the clubs) will provide the vital link between community rugby and the professional game. Each district will manage its league, aligning development programs to ensure players, coaches, and referees have a clear pathway to progress. A national competition will offer semi-pro teams the chance to shine, creating competitive rugby that inspires the next generation. Community Rugby: This is where the magic begins. Grassroots rugby must be inclusive and accessible, with opportunities for all ages, genders, and abilities. Community clubs will operate under their district’s guidance, offering tiered leagues to cater to everyone from social players to serious competitors. Programs like youth development leagues, school partnerships, and even walking rugby will ensure everyone can experience the joy of rugby. Pro Club Support: The professional clubs will play an active role in supporting their districts. Imagine pro players mentoring local teams, coaching sessions for young talent, and shared resources to ensure every club has the tools to succeed. When grassroots and semi-pro rugby thrive, the whole system benefits. Stronger districts mean more talent for the pro game, a deeper connection to fans, and a renewed sense of pride in our communities. The foundation is there; you just need to build on it.

It's too much of a coincidence that on the day World Rugby elects Brett Robinson as its new Chair, the news of a #LIV style breakaway Rugby league, backed by US and Middle East funding, is leaked to the press, it's a clear challenge to the #establishment. Let's see how this plays out, but it comes down to the fact that compared to other high-profile sports, elite Rugby players play too much, and get battered week-in week-out for quite frankly relatively little #remuneration. Owen Farrell is reportedly the highest-paid player in the world, earning $1.2m. It doesn't take a PhD in mathematics to do the sums and work out that for a pittance of what it took to fund LIV Golf, you could buy control of most of the top Rugby players and fund your own global rugby competition. No matter how much tinkering is done with rules, governance, player vs country contracts, concussion protocols, etc. this lack of money paid to its stars, leaves the sport more vulnerable than ever for a group like this to come along with a big cheque and mix things up a bit. Those of us with long memories have been down the Rugby breakaway road before and it failed. It is probable that the establishment has game played this scenario and will have plenty of power-plays of their own to bring to the table to prevent what some feel is inevitable. Therefore, the nuanced cause-and-effect, #fragmentation, and #revolution this disruption may cause is up for debate. Ultimately the sentiment of the players will be key. The disrupting protagonists have played their first card, so it's game on! In the meantime, I'm looking forward to a nice day out in #Cardiff on Sunday, hoping against hope, that my beloved #Wales can somehow avoid a record 11th consecutive international defeat against the Aussies! 🙏 #Rugby #WorldRugby #Disruption WRU - Welsh Rugby Union England Rugby Scottish Rugby South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) Rugby Australia New Zealand Rugby FFR - Fédération Française de Rugby Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) RugbyDAO World Rugby AYNE - are you not entertained? podcast Public Investment Fund (PIF) CVC

As another England Rugby community club season closes the spectacle of club successes and disappointments across the leagues as clubs celebrate or commiserate performances. However, while England Rugby struggle to solve the Premiership Rugby vs #ChampionshipRugbyClub financial debate, failing to establish a fair playing field at the top of the sport a similar battle is being played out throughout the leagues! Sport is based on fair competition, playing by rules/laws, being compliant with policies and conditions of competition… apart from in the England Rugby “amateur” leagues that is! While some clubs celebrate their youth policies, publicly stating which senior players come through their youth section (see Wetherby RUFC), a champion of true community sport, a few clubs, choosing to pay ‘professional players’ to bolster playing squads, denying they do so (once they’ve been successful) makes a mockery of ‘fair sport’. Being successful, gaining reflective glory, with an unfairly stacked squad is cheating! No one would praise the ‘playing of over-aged players’ in youth rugby (then pretending such players weren’t older just because the team was successful)! So why are coaches happy to do so in adult rugby? Those who bask in such ‘fake glory’ of winning, after fielding stacked teams should, at worst, hang their heads in shame or, at best, admit they are cheating and honestly state they pay players. Maybe England Rugby & Yorkshire Rugby should follow Wetherby RUFC example requiring clubs to indicate, in match programs, which senior players come from clubs junior sections (**) and which players are paid professionals (##)🤔 #HonestOpenGame

It’s always controversial to talk about Welsh rugby and the WRU - Welsh Rugby Union, especially now when there is a real crisis in the game. In this excellent article in the Western Mail yesterday, one of Wales’s greatest former players Jonathan Davies OBE calls for a major reform of Welsh rugby if it is to succeed and thrive in the future. Given we now have a new CEO in the WRU and a chairman from a big four accountancy firm background, then it may be worth looking at his proposals through a strategy and business lens rather than just one of rugby. So here goes: 🏉Consolidating Regions – Reducing the number of professional teams ensures resources and talent are concentrated, improving performance and competitiveness. This follows the principle of resource optimisation, ensuring quality is prioritised over spreading too thin. 🏉 Strengthening Development Pathways: Investing in grassroots rugby and the SRC creates a sustainable flow of talented players, much like businesses developing future leaders and managers through training. 🏉 Appointing Leadership: Bringing in a world-class Director of Rugby is critical as strong leadership, guided by vision and expertise, can unify stakeholders and drive the reform needed just as it does in successful organisations. 🏉 Improving Transparency: Sharing a clear, actionable plan fosters trust and engagement is essential for change, especially as transparency attracts investment and reassures all stakeholders that progress is being made. 🏉 Reassessing Professionalism: Accepting that some players may remain semi-professional ensures resources are focused where they’re most effective. This approach prioritises financial sustainability while maintaining opportunities for development. 🏉 Unifying Stakeholders: Aligning clubs, regions, and the WRU under one shared vision eliminates inefficiencies and fosters progress with collaboration creating a stronger, more cohesive system, much like in high-performing business ecosystems. Obviously this is just my take on these proposals and I am sure there are many other opinions on what needs to be done. Also, as someone who has not only been watching the international team at the “Arms Park” through the good and bad for the last 40 years but also as a season ticket holder at Cardiff Rugby and a Vice-President at my local club, I know that the heart often rules the head when it comes to Welsh rugby. But I believe this is the worst it has been in four decades and it’s clear that reform is essential and all such proposals, especially from people with experience of the game, should be looked at carefully by the WRU board. More importantly, I’d also be applying the same strategic lens to any proposals that the WRU management team itself has developed and justifying every one in terms of its impact on the future of the game here in #Wales. https://lnkd.in/eMGHcbRE