Yesterday’s announcement by the Welsh Rugby Union will be deeply disappointing for many rugby supporters across Carmarthenshire and west Wales. While the WRU has now confirmed its intention to move to a three-team professional structure from the 2028/29 season, significant questions remain unanswered about how that decision was reached and what it means for the future of professional rugby in west Wales.
The WRU has provided certainty for Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC by confirming that they will be offered the capital and east Wales licences, subject to agreement on the final licensing terms. However, supporters, players, sponsors and communities in west Wales are still being asked to wait for answers about their future.
For a region that has produced generations of Welsh internationals and played a central role in the success of Welsh rugby, it is simply not acceptable that the future of professional rugby in west Wales remains uncertain while assurances have already been provided elsewhere. The evidence, financial modelling and assessment criteria behind these decisions have still not been published.
These concerns are shared by Carmarthenshire County Council, which has rightly highlighted the importance of the Scarlets to the sporting, cultural and economic life of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire and the wider west Wales region, while also raising concerns about the transparency and credibility of the review process.
Communities across Carmarthenshire have invested their passion, loyalty and resources into professional rugby for decades. They deserve clear answers about how decisions are being made, what factors will determine the allocation of the west Wales licence and how the interests of west Wales are being protected.
If the WRU genuinely wants the trust and cooperation of supporters and stakeholders, it must be far more open about the rationale for its decisions. Transparency should not follow consultation; it should be the foundation of it. The future of Welsh rugby is too important for anything less than a fair, transparent and evidence-based process that recognises the contribution of west Wales and protects its place at the heart of the national game.
Carmelo Colasanto AS/MS – Gareth Beer AS/MS – Sarah Edwards AS/MS
Members of the Senedd for Sir Gaerfyrddin
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