THE Welsh Rugby Union has announced the number of professional men’s sides in Wales will be reduced from four to three — although the changes will not be implemented immediately.

In August, the governing body had produced a radical plan to turn around the game at both club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a 90-page consultation document entitled The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales.

Included as part of those proposals had been looking at the option of cutting the number of men’s professional sides — Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets — down to just two.

A six-week consultation period and engagement programme followed, which produced more than 7,000 public responses, while 31 face-to-face meetings took place throughout September with key stakeholders across the game.

Following that process, WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood said the board had unanimously agreed to implement a three-team structure which it feels will be “designed to deliver long-term success through rugby alignment across all levels of the game and financial sustainability.

The WRU confirmed it proposes to grant three licences for men’s clubs — one for Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west. Equal funding will be given to the three team squads, starting at an initial £6.4 million per year and rising to £7.8m.”