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Cardiff Blues are to run a much smaller but higher quality squad and end their policy of providing players free to charge to Pontypridd and Cardiff RFC.

The Arms Park-based region currently employ no fewer than 65 players at senior and Academy level.

They plan to cut that figure back drastically for next season, by having 38-40 senior players, supported by a group of Academy youngsters.

At present, a number of Blues employees play the bulk of their rugby at Premiership level with Ponty or Cardiff.

But that will now change, with head coach Danny Wilson implementing a major shake-up.

“We want less quantity, more quality,” explained chief executive Richard Holland.

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“Danny has identified that we have got too many players in the system.

“Historically, we have been servicing the two Premiership clubs in Pontypridd and Cardiff RFC.

“Danny has come and had a review of the whole environment and what we are going to be doing from next season onwards is trimming down the professional playing squad to 38-40 players to ensure those players are of quality and get the coaching attention they require.

“We will continue with an Academy and some of the senior Academy players will form part of that 38-40 playing squad.

“Danny wants to spend his money more wisely. He wants to look at a higher calibre player.

“Rather than servicing down, we want to permit up if there is talent being generated through Pontypridd and Cardiff. That makes absolute sense to me and the board will be supporting it.

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“There are no redundancies. We have a large number of players coming out of contract and, as Danny has said, everybody in the squad is fighting for their position.”

Holland says the Blues effectively funded Premiership champions Pontypridd to the tune of £250,000 last season with the players they provided them with free of charge.

“On a weekly basis, between 15-20 of our players get offered to Pontypridd and Cardiff for selection,” he said.

“We are under no contractual obligation to supply players.

“We have been funding Ponty and Cardiff with professional players and that has got to stop because we have to look after number one and look after the Cardiff Blues senior squad.

“If you look at the minutes our players turned out for Ponty last season and look at their salaries, it comes to about £250,000 worth of support we have given.

“That’s the equivalent of a couple of good quality players that could be playing in the regional environment and focused on Cardiff Blues success.

“The same goes for players we provided to Cardiff RFC, so you are talking about £500,000 of support in total.

“When you are operating on a budget of £4m, that’s serious money.

“We are effectively paying players to play for the Premiership clubs and that can’t go on.

“When you are providing the large majority of their squads, we can’t afford it.

“The Premiership clubs have to become self-sufficient.

(Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“They need a core of semi-professional players to create their own cultures and their own environments.

“If I was playing as a lock for one of those Premiership clubs and then Miles Normandale or Chris Dicomidis turned up from the Blues one week, but then the next week they’re not there, it’s not right for those environments.

“We have spoken to Cardiff RFC’s rugby committee and they have identified it’s probably the right thing for them to have more control over their core of players.”

At present, the Blues employ 43 senior players and 22 Academy players, with around 20 players coming out of contract at the end of this season.