CENTRAL CONTRACTS ARE BAD FOR WALES

Personally I think the national sides success means more to the Welsh people than domestic success does.
I also think (for the time being) we have to pick one or the other as we aren't going to be competitive both internationally and domestically.

Wales had a good world cup, a grandslam and a competitive summer tour (didn't get hammered unlike recent years) because..

1. We have more players playing in more clubs. More opportunities for developing talent.
2. With a lot of our best, more experienced internationals playing abroad, more youngsters are being discovered and playing regular regional rugby.

No James Hook at the Ospreys has seen Biggar cement his place at 10 and Ashley Beck thrive at 12. No Brew at Dragons giving Prydie a realistic chance to develop. No Mike Phillips has seen Webb become an international. Peel going to Sale has spurred the emergence of Tavis Knolye.

The players that are abroad are playing at a high standard and picking up different types of vital experience which they can bring back to the national setup. At the moment it's a perfect situation for the national side. The kids are playing week in and week out and the experienced internationals are also playing regular abroad. We're also blocking future French and English talent with Welsh guys playing everywhere.

I like the current situation it's helping the national side develop very quickly.

All good points. Problem is if regions remain uncompetitive fans will get fed up of turning out to watch them lose, and long-term that will affect economic base of the game and development of said youngsters (if they are stuck playing mediocre opposition in nobody-cares games, week in week out).

We happen to have a bunch of great players at the moment, who have the quality to perform internationally while their clubs fail to get out of the HC groups year after year. But these things come in cycles. It may be very different in 10 years time.