Former Wales captain Sam Warburton cannot see things changing within the country over the next year.
The Welsh Rugby Union have struggled financially for a number of years and it all came to a head in 2023 when players threatened to go on strike.
Although that was eventually settled when the WRU agreed a deal with the regions, Warburton believes that it will take a while for the teams to get back on an even footing.
Poor results
“I think it’s going to be a tough year next year,” Warburton told WalesOnline.
“I’ve got friends at Cardiff and they’re training with barely any numbers right now with boys at World Cup and injured players. I am concerned for some teams in Europe and when they play away in Ireland.
“I think we’ll see some less-than-flattering results next year. We might be surprised but from my understanding, the regions aren’t set up for much success next season.
“They might tread water. I hate saying that. I want them to succeed and I’d love for them to prove me wrong.
“But I don’t think the regions have been set up for success. I think it’ll be a tough year.”
There have been reports that Cardiff and Ospreys are set to merge, which would reduce the number of regional teams.
Some believe that Welsh rugby is unable to support four professional sides but Warburton disagrees and believes that the two regions will remain separate for now.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” he said. “We’ve seen the Ospreys and Scarlets, then the Ospreys and Ealing.
“It’s completely understandable that if a business is struggling financially, which all the regions obviously are, they have to explore options. They have to have these discussions.
“That’s all they are. They’re very tentative discussions exploring opportunities. That’s what we do, whether it’s recruiting players or trying to save a business.
“We know you have to explore those opportunities. We all know Welsh rugby isn’t very tight-lipped and these things get out.
“It’s nothing more than a very early tentative discussion to see if it would work just because the clubs are in such financial difficulty. I don’t think it’s anyone’s preferred option.”
State of Welsh rugby
He added: “It’s just a discussion because it could potentially keep clubs alive. That’s the state we’re in at the minute. Would we rather see that or a club die? Personally, I don’t think it would happen.
“I can’t see it happening and my understanding is it won’t happen. Not any time soon anyway. The only thing I’d like is to keep hold of four professional teams.
“I really agree with what David Buttress said not long ago. You can’t keep chopping off arms otherwise you end up with three, then two. That’s not good.
“We need to work really hard to keep four professional clubs. I’d really love to see a long-term strategy for a region up north. I really feel we need to explore that.
“Given Wales has the smallest population out of the top 10 nations in the world, we have to have a robust plan to do something up there. Whether that takes five or 10 years, I think something has to be done to explore that.
“Whatever happens, I think we really have to hold onto four professional clubs.”
READ MORE: Cardiff’s latest loss underlines the difficult financial climate in rugby
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