Seismic change or plan B? What now for Welsh rugby?

As the professional Welsh rugby season kicks off, a decision on the future of the game inches closer.

A public survey into the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) radical plans to reduce the number of professional team from four to two closed on Friday.

More than 7,000 people completed the survey which, the governing body claims, is among the largest to exist in Wales.

In comparison, the Welsh Government consultation on the proposed 20mph speed limit in 2021 got about 6,100 responses.

But over the coming weeks, it will come down to only a few people to make a generational decision that will affect thousands for years to come.

The Union's consultation process with players, stakeholders, politicians and the professional sides ends on Tuesday, 30 September before a final decision expected by the end of October.

The need for change has been highlighted by continued failure in the Welsh game.

The national men's side suffered an 18-Test match losing run and the women's team were knocked out of the World Cup after their worst showing in the tournament's history.

It is the make-up of the men's professional game that has caused most publicity, with four options provided by the 90-page consultation WRU document.

The final model of halving the professional sides is the WRU preferred solution, which also included factors such as having two aligned women's sides.

The governing body wants to fund and control all rugby matters, with private investors having responsibility for commercial operations.

The WRU also has the long-term ambition of building a national campus for the two professional men and women's teams, plus the national sides and academies.

The WRU insists no decisions have been made and that it is willing for plans to be shaped after discussions with the professional clubs, players and supporters.

But the plans have sparked an unfavourable reaction towards the WRU's preferred two-team solution from many quarters, including former bosses Gareth Davies and David Moffett.

Dragons have been the most vocal side, stating Welsh rugby "deserves better", claiming no compelling case had been made for cutting two regions and the structures proposed were unacceptable.

"We are extremely disappointed in the initial proposals - they simply don't add up," said Dragons chairman David Wright.

"There is no way we can agree to the proposals as they currently are. Welsh rugby deserves better and the WRU must rethink."

Dragons and Scarlets supporters protested together at a recent pre-season friendly, with Llanelli and Newport councillors vocal in their criticism. Scarlets fans plan to protest before the opening league match on Saturday.

Players are also unhappy, including Ospreys and Wales captain Jac Morgan who has indicated he would leave to play club rugby outside Wales if his current side was culled.

The Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA) has also warned the WRU proposals would "drive talent to leave Wales".

"The collective view of the players is clear: the proposed two-club model does not have their support," said WRPA chief executive Gareth Lewis.

Lewis said players believe the plans would reduce professional playing opportunities in Wales, particularly for younger players, shrink the player pool available for the national team, risk alienating supporters, damage the historic rivalries that define Welsh rugby and limit development.

The mood music from people involved inside and outside discussions with the WRU is that the governing body is open to compromise.

If the WRU completely relented and kept four teams on unequal funding, you wonder why they have been through all this upheaval and anxiety.

If they opted for three teams it would still require one team to either go of its own accord, a tender process or a merger.

With Cardiff seemingly safe from the axe after being taken over by the WRU in April when they went into administration, the futures of Ospreys, Scarlets and Dragons will be under most scrutiny.

Ospreys are already redeveloping St Helen's in Swansea for the 2026-27 season, while Scarlets unveiled new proposed investors this month.

Reddin has revealed a meeting with an independent group has led to a different view point.

"While many of the same themes were developing amongst supporter, player and club-led meetings, this 'outside' group came from a much more dispassionate viewpoint," said Reddin.

"It gave a perspective to our thinking which, I believe, has corrected our course in the right direction."

The WRU board has asked for a series of papers which will help inform it to make the final decision.

"We have proposed an optimal system, advocated its merits and have discussed this in great detail in our consultation and engagement meetings," said Reddin.

"We have continued to listen hard and analyse the information and opinion offered."

Reddin accepts it is unlikely any outcome will satisfy every stakeholder.

"I am sure we will provide a set of recommendations that will put the future success of the Welsh rugby system at its heart," said Reddin.

"One which has had the widest possible input from all our stakeholders and has had the focus of everyone at the WRU."

Recommendations are due to be sent to the WRU board in October to make a final decision on the way ahead at the end of that month.

The 12-strong board is chair Richard Collier-Keywood, chief executive Abi Tierney, Jennifer Mathias, Andrew Williams, Alison Thorne, Amanda Bennett, Jamie Roberts, Colin Wilks, Chris Jones, Malcolm Wall, John Manders and Claire Donavan.

Anybody expecting a definitive outcome to any decision made will be disappointed because the ramifications of the choice will emerge.

It could be the beginning rather than the end, with threats of legal action and players' strikes still on the horizon.

So while we might only have to wait for a month for the possibility of that potential generational decision designed to shake up Welsh rugby, the knock-on effects will not end there.