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.

In an excellent article in the Western Mail last week, one of Wales’s most respected former players, Jonathan Davies, called for a major reform of the game to ensure its survival and future success.

His perspective carries weight not only because of his incredible career in the sport but also due to his historical foresight. After Wales’s disastrous 1988 tour of New Zealand, he warned the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) that neglecting the development of grassroots rugby would lead to years of mediocrity.

Fast forward to 2025 and his call for reform is as relevant as ever. More importantly, given the professionalisation of rugby and the complexity of running a national governing body, it’s worth examining his proposals from a strategic and business perspective.

The first suggestion from Jonathan is probably the most contentious namely to reduce the number of professional teams, arguing that talent is spread too thin across four regions.

From a business point of view, this is a classic case of resource optimisation and consolidating into fewer, stronger teams allows for better allocation of resources, fostering excellence and creating a competitive edge. In high-performing organisations, focusing on core strengths rather than trying to do everything ensures a sustainable and impactful future.

Reducing regions is a controversial proposal given the strong........

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