Fears for future of Welsh rugby amid cuts to grassroots scheme

There are fears for the future of Welsh rugby amid cuts to grassroots funding and a record string of defeats for the men's senior national team.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) recently confirmed it would stop funding a scheme created to develop the game at grassroots level. Its rugby hub officers have been employed in schools across Wales since 2014, with match funding from the WRU.

Their main purpose has been to engage young people in rugby and encourage them to pursue their interest in the sport in local clubs. The governing body for rugby union in Wales says the aim would be for a "restructured programme" with "100% coverage" across the country.

The change in approach comes at a difficult time for the WRU, which reported a loss of £7.5m last year. Head coach Warren Gatland quit during this year's Six Nations championship, after Wales's men secured the tournament's wooden spoon for the second year in a row.

A petition calling for the WRU to reconsider its decision to discontinue the scheme has been signed nearly 5,000 times, describing the hub officers as the "backbone of grassroots rugby". Some areas who have felt the benefit of the officers are fearing for the future of the grassroots game.

Einion Davies is the chairman of Bro Gwernant Rugby Club in Llangollen, Denbighshire. This weekend, he is embarking on a sponsored walk to raise funds to secure the role for the next two years.

Mr Davies told Sky News he was "shocked" to learn the hub officer scheme was coming to an end. "We were informed by...the school that he works at, that the funding has been withdrawn," he said.

"And the work that he's done there, as a club, we were keen to keep it all going, so we decided as a club to try and raise some of that money ourselves so we can keep him in his role." 'Big mistake' There was "hardly any rugby" played in the "predominantly football-orientated" area before a hub officer was appointed for the area, Mr Davies said. But he acknowledged that money was "tight" and that difficult decisions had to be made.

"I would imagine, they've got to make cuts and whatever in some places. But, in my opinion, to cut the grassroots, an investment in grassroots, is a big mistake," he added.

He hopes his 54-mile trek, split over three days, will help secure the role and help Bro Gwernant find the next generation of Welsh rugby stars. "As a club, we did put some of the money towards it as well, because obviously the cost, the National Insurance and everything's gone up, so the cost of the wages has gone up," he said.

"So we were doing the fundraising anyway, but since this funding's been withdrawn from the WRU, it's made it a lot harder for the club. "We're striving to do our best to keep him, but it's made it a lot more difficult." The WRU said schools and educational establishments, who part-fund the programme, are "free to reconsider how they re-allocate their investment in rugby" as a result of its decision.

Read more from Sky News:Demands government intervenes in 'dying' English rugbyBritish and Irish Lions see first English captain in more than 20 years Geraint John, the WRU's community director said: "Due to an internal consultation process we are unable to expand on our future plans for community further than the statement published last month. "Once this process is complete, I look forward to sharing information on the next chapter of our education programme.".