Row forces Gatland to compromise
Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:56
The row between the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Wales' regional teams about player availability is seriously undermining Wales coach Warren Gatland's preparations for the November Tests.
The Welsh regional teams want to keep their players for as long as possible, in order to send out their strongest squads for Magners League and EDF Energy Cup matches.
But this means that Gatland has to wait until the week before Wales' first Test match, against South Africa, before he can assemble and prepare his squad. The coach will thus have a ridiculously short time frame of only five days in which to prepare a Wales assault on the world champions.
Gatland said that the regional teams were using the players as "pawns" when he expressed his displeasure at the situation.
According to walesonline.co.uk, the coach was even prepared to take on the Springboks without his Ospreys stars, if it meant that he could assemble his team 13 days ahead of the Test match, albeit selecting players from only three regions.
Gatland was thus prepared to forego the services of players such as captain Ryan Jones, Shane Williams and Gavin Henson, if it meant an extra week of preparation time for his squad.
The Kiwi has expressed his displeasure with the situation, which prompted the regions to release a statement criticising Gatland.
The statement said that the regions are still considering Gatland's request for early release of the players, but that they wanted a 'legally binding agreement' in stead of 'gentlemen agreements' which had been 'ignored by the WRU's non-rugby management'.
"As regions we were disappointed by Warren Gatland's decision to publicly voice his thoughts over the issue of player release to the media and additionally misrepresent the regions' position," said the joint statement.
"The regions have not dismissed Warren's request to seek additional release for players involved in international duties for the autumn internationals.
"Rather, the regions sought a reassurance that this matter would be dealt with thoughtfully and professionally with due regard for the consequences such a move would have on Wales' current domestic season.
"Furthermore, an additional request was made that any solution reached would be legally binding, to avoid a repeat of past instances where the Union has reached agreements with the regions, only to see them later ignored by the WRU's non-rugby management.
"We take the role we play in helping deliver the individual players that form the national team extremely seriously, as we also do our commitment to our own regions, the competitions, our businesses, players and supporters.
"Successful strategic thinking and planning in Welsh rugby requires thoughtful analysis and adaptation to the game as a whole.
"More than ever, as successful rugby nations have demonstrated around the globe, a partnership approach to rugby's administration and governance is required to achieve a sustainable, meaningful and successful future at all levels of the game."
That statement was in turn countered by the WRU, who backed Gatland's stance.
"The Welsh Rugby Union fully supports Warren in his aim to achieve maximum preparation time for the squad before the forthcoming matches in November," WRU Chief Executive Roger Lewis said.
"We totally understand the need for all the parties involved to work in partnership and I know Warren has raised the release issue in good time.
"Player release is always unavoidably disruptive given the demands of the modern professional game, but we must work together on this in the interests of a successful Wales team.
"I would hope this issue can be resolved quickly through direct discussion as there are rules and understandings already in place.
"There is certainly no need to conclude any new formal agreements at this stage.
"The four regions play a vital role in the delivery of a successful Wales team and I would ask them to seek to resolve this issue now in the spirit of partnership. It can be done if there is a universal will to succeed.
"There is a clear issue over disruption of cup team selection for the regions, but in this particular case we are talking about Wales preparing for an incredibly strong and important line-up of games.
"The fixture crunch issue this has pinpointed is clearly there to be debated and resolved.
"We have been involved in important and meaningful talks with the regions on a range of issues and I am confident they have the ability to help find a solution to this problem.
"Warren has made it very clear that as far as the national squad is concerned he is looking for a level playing field to ensure their preparations are on a par with what is being achieved in the other home nations."
