By Ben James

Copyright walesonline

Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin has given the biggest indication yet that the view of Welsh rugby players could be changing his mind as he revealed he will be meeting with individual players to discuss plans to cut two regions. Reddin was speaking at the midway point of the WRU’s consultation process, with the governing body currently speaking to a number of stakeholders to decide the best way forward for Welsh rugby. The ‘optimal system’ put forward by the WRU would see the number of men’s professional teams cut from four to two. That has been met with pushback, with the Dragons calling for the WRU to change course . The Welsh Rugby Players Association also came out with a statement saying the players did not support the two-club model. While offering an update following the midway point of the consultation process, Reddin welcomed the feedback of the players in particular – offering a hint that their views had in someway changed his mind. “I think it’s all shaping my opinion,” said Reddin. “I learn something from every meeting I go into. “The discussions with the head coaches and directors of rugby in each of the regions have been incredibly useful. None of those meetings have been combative. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. “They’ve all been really professional and instructive. They’ve all leant into the problem we’re trying to solve here. I’ve really enjoyed it. “They have influenced my thinking in a number of areas. I’m not sitting here dogmatically saying what we’re put out there is the only way of solving this. “But what we’re engaged in is a respectful level of challenge about what are the right options. I think everyone so far agrees that we can’t just fix one bit of this system. “It all needs a level of fixing if we’re going to create a sustainable, successful system going forward. That fact creates a number of challenges. “We’re almost back to a poker chip analogy. If the money was poker chips, it’s where are we putting this money and when are we putting it there? “Are we all in on professional rugby now to elevate that standard? That’s one option. It’s not one I think is necessarily best for the future of the game. “We do need to have chips and investments on other things. Equally, when we think about that on a timeline, we might choose to move some of the chips into different places immediately to support the change compared to what we might do in the medium and long term. “All of those things, I’m getting feedback on. The feedback has been backed by a lot of passion, but also a lot of evidence and thought on behalf of the professional clubs and also the players. “The players have been incredibly well-prepared coming into these meetings. If I was to pick something I’ve heard from players, I need to continue to listen to the value that identity and place has to them. “In some cases, more so than facilities and other things, connection to identity and people continues to be really important.” Reddin added that the opinions of groups like players and clubs – those “in the trenches” – would be “weighted more heavily”, although he added it’s a “blend of heart and minds” when it comes to balancing data and emotion. He also added that the overwhelming piece of feedback from the consultation so far had been the “universal” recognition that change is needed. The proposed budgets of around £7.8m per team in the two-club model were described as “sustainable and affordable” by Reddin, but he added that it wouldn’t be possible in “three or four (teams) without significant cuts to other things in other areas or significant external investment”. “The rugby business is incredibly challenged,” he added. However, Reddin did admit that there were concerns over the amount of playing time that would be available to players – particularly in key positions like scrum-half and fly-half – were there to be just two clubs. The WRPA’s initial meeting with the WRU saw the players’ group put forward the findings of a survey from Welsh rugby players, with the vast majority being against the two-club model. A very high number were also understood to have stated they would look at opportunities elsewhere should the two-club model be implemented. Reddin has announced that he will meet with individual players to hear their views. “They’re our most important audience,” said Reddin about the players. “We had a great meeting with them last week and we’ve got subsequent meetings with them. “That’s one forum. Steve Tandy is out talking to players as part of his engagement with them, not specifically on this agenda, but we are listening through that route. “I’ve got meetings planned with players as I want to hear their individual voices. “The WRPA meetings are crucial. That’s the players’ representative group. “We’re not trying to pick them off one by one, but it’s also clear that when you try to represent a group with 160 professional players, people will have slightly different perspectives. “With the survey the players did themselves, there was a spread of opinions. It was clear they weren’t particularly in favour of the two. But that’s unsurprising. “If we were in their seat, why would they be? We are listening hard to them. We haven’t made any decisions yet. “We’ve put something out there which based on what we’ve started with we think is the best possible option. We’re open to persuasion. “It’s not a question of if we don’t back that, everything else is wrong. We’ve done that deliberately for people to agree or disagree with.”