Blues’ New “Quality” Approach To Cost Ponty and Cardiff

Cardiff Blues are to run a much smaller but higher quality squad and end their policy of providing players free to charge to Pontypridd and Cardiff RFC, according to Wales Online.

The Arms Park-based region currently employ no fewer than 65 players at senior and academy level. They plan to cut that figure back drastically for next season, by having 38-40 senior players, supported by a group of academy youngsters.

At present, a number of Blues employees play the bulk of their rugby at Premiership level with Ponty or Cardiff. But that will now change, with head coach Danny Wilson implementing a major shake-up.

“We want less quantity, more quality,” explained chief executive Richard Holland. “Danny has identified that we have got too many players in the system. Historically, we have been servicing the two Premiership clubs in Pontypridd and Cardiff RFC.

“Danny has come and had a review of the whole environment and what we are going to be doing from next season onwards is trimming down the professional playing squad to 38-40 players to ensure those players are of quality and get the coaching attention they require.

“We will continue with an Academy and some of the senior Academy players will form part of that 38-40 playing squad.

“There are no redundancies. We have a large number of players coming out of contract and, as Danny has said, everybody in the squad is fighting for their position.”

Holland says the Blues effectively funded Premiership champions Pontypridd to the tune of £250,000 last season with the players they provided them with free of charge. On a weekly basis, between 15-20 of our players get offered to Pontypridd and Cardiff for selection,” he said. We are under no contractual obligation to supply players. When you are operating on a budget of £4m, that’s serious money.”