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Cardiff Blues chairman Peter Thomas is one of the longest serving major figures in Welsh rugby and someone who has seen huge changes in the landscape over the past two decades.

Now, as we move into the new year, he feels the professional game is at a crossroads and that significant changes are required if the four regions are to compete for silverware, rather than just wither and die. He sat down with rugby correspondent SIMON THOMAS to share his thoughts.

Q: When you look at the state of regional rugby in Wales as we head into 2017, what do you see?

A: We all realise there has to be major change for the professional game in Wales because as we sit and speak the car crash is about to happen and Rome is burning. We recognise this and we have to make the changes.

We all realise we can not compete in either the Pro12 or Europe when we are working on squad costs of £4m to £5m while the Irish and the Scots are at £6.5m to £7m and the English clubs are up at £8m. In fairness to the Welsh Rugby Union, they understand this.

If we want to win titles, we have to change what we have got because what we have got is not working. That’s what I mean when I say Rome is burning.

Q: So how do you address that financial imbalance?

A: Well, we start by coming together, which we have done. Myself and the other three regional chairmen have met with Gareth Davies and Martyn Phillips and we are definitely making progress as regions with our relationship with the WRU. They are very understanding as to the difficulties we have, particularly financially, and together we are working on a new module for professional rugby in Wales where we all play equal parts.

We are all encouraged by the discussions we are having, albeit that they are in their infancy. Together we are now going to embark on a new set-up for professional rugby in Wales.

It’s a breath of fresh air that we’ve got an executive in Gareth and Martyn who know the game and understand our difficulties. We have a situation where we can sit down and trust one another and that has been a huge step forward. Gareth was my first CEO here and he was also CEO at the Dragons, so he has a great advantage of understanding. What I like about the new executive is they listen.

We have already established the PRGB and the fact we have invitations from the WRU to sit with them and discuss the way forward is hugely encouraging. For the next few months, we will be looking at the best way forward. It’s about listening and putting our proposals forward collectively, which we are doing, and coming up with a strategy which is acceptable to everyone. We are definitely making progress in that direction.

I think we all realise we can not compete in either Europe or the Pro12 consistently year in year out when we are working on squad costs of £4-5m when Ireland and Scotland, our major competitors, are on £6.5-7m.

Q: Are you confident that this new module you refer to would mean increased budgets for the four professional sides in Wales?

A: Yes I am because we know without it regional rugby will die. So, collectively, we have to work together. We have got to have four strong regions in Wales.

Q: Do you feel then that, in the long-term, Welsh rugby can not be reliant on benefactors like yourself?

A: I will always be here, there is no question about that. I have been here 50 years, from a youth player all the way through. People like myself, Gareth Edwards, Bob Norster, Dai Young, Gareth Davies, we are all part of the history of this great club of ours. So I am not going anywhere. I will always be here for as long as I am needed.

Q: But you might have a view that the funding system needs tweaking?

A: It needs changing and we are in the process now of putting those changes into place.

Q: Do you think you will see a Welsh team win the Champions Cup in the next 10 years?

A: Yes, I do, because of these changes. I have every confidence that it will happen.

Q: And do you also have confidence that the four professional teams we have now will still be here in 10 years time?

A: Yes I do. I think it’s very, very important geographically and for the development of our youngsters coming through that the 300 clubs we have in Wales have to be properly represented with four very strong regions. I don’t think there is room for a fifth, but four strong regions is an absolute must.

Q: You know there are some people within the Blues area who will never come and watch the team. Do you think in future years you will have a greater following from the valleys?

A: Yes I do. If you look at the playing squad of Cardiff Blues over the years and the current one, over 60 per cent of them come from the valleys. Their mums and dads and aunts and uncles all come down and support them. We have a great group of youngsters now, people like Macauley Cook, Dillon Lewis, Tomas Williams, Garyn Smith, Jarrod Evans, Aled Summerhill and they are all valleys boys. Gethin Jenkins is a Beddau boy, Matthew Rees is from Tonyrefail. It is slowly but surely being recognised that this is a regional team.