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Proposals are on the table for a radical shake-up of professional rugby in Wales which would see the contracting of all players by a new joint body made up of the four regions and the WRU.

It would be the biggest change in the game in Wales since the introduction of regional rugby back in 2003 and a ground-breaking move.

The idea behind the plans would be to provide a sustainable future for the four existing pro teams - the Ospreys, Scarlets, Cardiff Blues and Dragons.

It would see Wales moving closer towards the model which operates in countries like Ireland and New Zealand.

There would be a pooling of income, including TV revenue, into one pot from which players would be paid. That pot would be managed and run by the new five-strong body, made up of the four pro teams and the WRU.

This would be an extension of the arrangement which has already seen around £1m saved over the past year by joint deals on areas like insurance, medical supplies and even stationery.

The regions would still retain their independence and autonomy, while there are no plans for any name changes. There would also still be scope for private investment into individual regions.

Discussions have begun between the WRU and the regions over the proposed revamp with further meetings scheduled over the coming weeks.

The news comes in the wake of headline-grabbing comments from Cardiff Blues chairman Peter Thomas earlier this week.

Thomas warned there was a car crash coming in regional rugby unless a new module was put in place for the professional game.

He said there was no way the regions could compete in the Pro12 or Europe given their financial limitations in comparison with rivals from other countries.

The Blues, Ospreys and Scarlets are operating on annual playing budgets of around £5m a year, while the Dragons have been spending less than £3.5m.

Thomas claimed this compared with £6.5m to £7m for the Irish and the Scottish sides and £8m for the English clubs. On top of that some French clubs have budgets of over £10m.

He said there was a vital need to inject additional funding into the Welsh professional game.

But, as things stands, there is actually likely to be a reduction in income for the four regions next season because of various financial arrangements coming to an end, such as the existing BT sponsorship deal and a three-year WRU loan package.

The only way that shortfall can be made up is by the benefactors putting their hands in their pockets or the WRU becoming more financially involved.

The alternative would be slashing the playing budgets.

Players, and perhaps some non-playing staff, being contracted to the new body would provide the regions with a greater degree of financial security and reduce the burden and risk on the benefactors.

The hope is the new arrangement would ultimately see playing budgets increased, enabling our teams to be more competitive.

At present, some 16 players, including the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton and Dan Biggar, are on National Dual Contracts, where the Union pay 60 per cent of their wages and the regions 40 per cent.

Now we could be heading for a new, more comprehensive contracting system.

With the relationship between the WRU and the regions better than it has been for a number of years, it seems there is enough mutual trust for them to consider working closer together and implementing a new formula to take the game in Wales forward.

It’s early days yet, but there are likely to be an interesting few months ahead.