Whisper it - relations between union and clubs improving but more needed

Better relations between parties is a positive but this has to be the start

Wales head coach Warren Gatland. Pic: Huw Evans Sports Agency

Over the next few months you are very likely to hear talk of a closer and healthier relationship between the Welsh Rugby Union, the men's national side and the four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets.

Even the most one-eyed WRU apologist will admit the relationship between the governing body and its professional sides has not been as healthy as it should have been over the past 15 years or so. It has very much been an "us" and "them" approach with the WRU having endured many long, drawn-out and public spats with its professional clubs. But whisper it quietly, the relationship is far healthier than it has been for a long time, while there is greater synergy between the Wales management and the professional clubs.

For years there was a top-heavy approach at the WRU where the vast majority of resources were pooled into the national side, which on the face of it sounds fine but the problem was everything underneath, especially the four professional clubs, were neglected. This weakened the foundations of Welsh rugby and the WRU should have fixed the roof when the sun was shining but instead the rot spread upwards. At last the penny has dropped with the WRU; they cannot have a weak professional game and expect to have a strong national side. The message is both parties need each other and there has been some good work behind the scenes which will hopefully pay dividends over the coming seasons.