There is no hiding place anymore

Even before Wales’ horror defeat to Italy, it would have taken a brave person to argue against the assertion Welsh rugby is in a dark place and in need of fixing. The calamitous nature of much of the performance against the Italians only served to make the point crystal clear.

The game in this country is at a crossroads. A golden generation of players, not seen since the halcyon days of the 1970's, have mostly left, and there is no hiding place anymore.

For over a decade the success of the men's national side papered over the cracks elsewhere in Welsh rugby, but instead of fixing the roof when the sun was shining the rot has been allowed to spread. The four professional sides in Wales have struggled on and off the field for a long-time, and this level of the game undoubtedly needs to be fixed as a matter of priority.

But there are signs the Welsh Rugby Union and the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) are taking matters seriously. New WRU CEO Abi Tierney will be posting her long-term strategy for the game in Wales this June, and there are a number of issues which need to be fixed before Welsh rugby can even think about thriving again.