The past two weekends should have been a celebration of Welsh rugby.
Instead, they have been a moment of real concern for supporters across the country.
Watching the Welsh men’s team take the field in the Six Nations (particularly at home against one of the best sides in the world, France) should represent the pinnacle of national pride.
Historically, this was a fixture where tickets were impossible to obtain.
Yet this year, for the first time in living memory, seats remained unsold.
That should alarm everyone.
This is not just about results on the field.
Empty seats point to something deeper: declining confidence, growing disconnect, and a professional game under serious financial pressure.
At the same time, the potential loss of professional regions such as the Ospreys highlights the scale of the crisis facing Welsh rugby.
The loss of any region is not simply a sporting issue — it is an economic one.
Each region contributes an estimated £17 million plus, annually through employment, matchday revenue, sponsorship, broadcasting income, and spending in local businesses.
Removing a region means job losses, reduced economic activity, and fewer opportunities for young players to develop and progress within Wales.
For many rural and regional communities, professional rugby is one of the few high-profile pathways available to young people.
Taking that away further limits opportunity in areas already facing economic challenges.
The professional regions are the foundation of the national team.
If the regional game weakens, national performance and public engagement will decline.
That means fewer tickets sold at the Principality Stadium, reduced corporate hospitality, and less spending in hotels, restaurants, and businesses across Cardiff.
International match weekends generate millions of pounds for the capital. Even a modest drop in attendance could result in significant financial losses.
In other words, weakening the regions today risks damaging Cardiff’s economy tomorrow.
Across Wales, the consequences of decline would be clear: lost jobs, reduced investment, talent leaving the country, falling revenues, and damage to one of the strongest global brands Wales possesses.
The warning signs are already visible. Empty seats at major Six Nations fixtures would once have been unthinkable.
At a time when public finances are under pressure, Wales cannot afford to lose millions of pounds in economic activity because a key national asset has been allowed to weaken.
This is no longer just a rugby issue.
It is an economic issue.
A community issue.
A national issue.
The question is no longer whether there is a problem.
The question is whether action will be taken before the financial and cultural damage becomes irreversible.
The Senedd has previously been happy to write off debts for Cardiff Wales Airport and also wasted millions on the Newport bypass!
What can they do for the global brand that is WRU?
I have written the following letter to Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan in my capacity as Town and County Councillor (Independent), Elli Ward (Llanelli), Carmarthenshire County Council . . .
Urgent Action Needed to Protect Welsh Rugby and Its Economic Value
Dear First Minister Morgan,
I am writing to express deep concern about the current state of Welsh professional rugby and the wider economic and social risks facing Wales if urgent action is not taken. The past two weekends have been particularly difficult and, for many supporters, deeply upsetting. Watching the Welsh men’s national team compete in the Six Nations — especially at home against one of the strongest teams in the world, France — should represent the very best of Welsh sport and national pride.
Historically, fixtures of this stature were impossible to obtain tickets for. Yet the reality this year has been very different, with seats remaining unsold for what would once have been considered a prime international match. This is a worrying indicator of declining confidence, reduced public engagement, and growing concern about the direction of the game.
This situation should act as a clear warning. If current trends continue, Wales risks losing millions of pounds in matchday income, hospitality, tourism, and associated spending — losses that the country can ill afford.
The Cost of Losing Professional Regions. The stability of the national team begins with the professional regions. The loss of any region would represent a significant economic and structural blow.Each region contributes an estimated £17 million plus, annually when direct operations, employment, and wider local economic activity are taken into account. This includes:
Matchday ticket sales and hospitality
Sponsorship and commercial partnerships
Broadcasting and central income
Employment for players, staff, and event workers
Spending in local businesses such as hotels, transport, retail, and food services
The loss of a region therefore means job losses, reduced local economic activity, and a weakened player development pathway.
Impact on Rural and Regional Communities
Many regions serve areas that already face limited economic opportunity. Removing professional structures further reduces:
Career pathways and aspiration for young people
Local employment and business income many microbusinesses support rugby in Wales and further afield.
Community engagement and participation
This risks deepening economic inequality between urban and rural Wales.
The Consequences for Cardiff . . .
While much government focus falls on the capital, weakening the regions will directly impact Cardiff’s economy. Reports on the build up to this weekends match support this fact.
The regions are the foundation of national team success. If performance and public confidence decline, the consequences will include:
Reduced ticket sales for Six Nations and autumn internationals
Lower corporate hospitality revenue
Reduced hotel occupancy and visitor spending
Significant losses for businesses reliant on international match weekends
Even modest attendance declines could result in millions of pounds lost annually to the capital’s economy.
A National Economic Risk
The combined impact across Wales would include:
Loss of jobs and skills.
Reduced player development and talent retention.
Declining commercial and sponsorship income
Reduced tourism and event-related spending
Damage to one of Wales’ strongest global brands. Many people hear of Wales through the endeavours of our sporting teams. This brings in unknown revenue which is crucial to Wales.
At a time when public finances are under pressure, Wales cannot afford to allow a sector of this economic and cultural importance to decline.
A Call for Immediate Government Engagement
Surely now is the time for the Welsh Government to become actively involved — before the situation deteriorates further and the nation begins to lose substantial income that cannot easily be replaced. I have seen many politicians supporting Welsh rugby but light on concrete solutions or options.
Comments such as
“We want to see a strong and sustainable future”
“Welsh rugby is part of the fabric of our national identity and must be protected for future generations”
“Welsh rugby is too important to our national life for continued uncertainty”
“Ensure the professional game is placed on a stable footing”
Also WRU appearing before the House of Commons Welsh affairs Committee and scrutiny of the WRU.
Yet no solutions or process or visible engagement offered and dialogue to improve the situation.
I therefore urge the Welsh Government to:
Recognise professional rugby as a strategic national economic asset
Undertake an urgent economic impact assessment of regional sustainability and national matchday income
Engage directly with the WRU and regional stakeholders to establish a sustainable long-term funding model
Consider targeted intervention to protect jobs, development pathways, and regional economic activity
The warning signs are already visible. Empty seats at major international fixtures would once have been unthinkable. Without action, the financial and reputational damage to Wales could be significant and long-lasting.
Protecting Welsh rugby is not simply about sport — it is about protecting jobs, opportunity, national pride, and millions of pounds in economic activity across Wales.
I would welcome your response outlining what urgent steps the Welsh Government intends to take to safeguard this vital national asset.
The Senedd has previously supported Cardiff Wales Airport and written off huge debts and wasted millions on the Newport bypass. To bury their head on this matter will be something the public will never forgive them for.
