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WRU announce plans for fifth regional club
By Pete Hayman
Plans to establish a fifth regional Welsh rugby club have been confirmed by Roger Lewis, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).
In an interview with the Western Mail, Lewis said that the WRU is looking to establish a new region, with North Wales being "a front runner" for the plans. Lewis told the newspaper: "We are actively working with North Wales at the moment to see if we can put in place a development region there - and we have to explore other opportunities in Wales." The regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003 saw the establishment of five new teams. However, it was reduced to four in 2004 when Celtic Warriors, based in Bridgend and Pontypridd, was controversially liquidated by the WRU. "If I could turn the clock back, I would certainly not have disbanded the Celtic Warriors," revealed Lewis. Since 2004, four regions - Neath Swansea Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, Llanelli Scarlets and Newport Gwent Dragons - have represented Welsh rugby in the Magners League and European competitions. "We may not have to do anything in South Wales if the four regions can create enough Welsh-qualified talent," said Lewis. "But we cannot endorse or support a policy which encourages more and more overseas players to play their rugby in Wales. That is simply not not a sustainable position for our game or our finances."Plans to establish a fifth regional Welsh rugby club have been confirmed by Roger Lewis, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).
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