The China Mail - 'Exhausting' off-field issues hang over Wales before France clash

Last weekend's 48-7 thumping at historic rivals England in their tournament opener came with a backdrop of another crisis in the nation of little more than three million people.

Last month the Welsh Rugby Union, founded in 1881, began the process of culling one of its four professional clubs, the Ospreys, in the latest instalment of the off-field problems engulfing the governing body.

The Swansea-based side's owners are likely to take over Cardiff.

Only the Scarlets in Llanelli, the Dragons, who play in Newport, and the team from the capital are certain to remain after 2027.

The latest episode in the WRU's soap opera comes after years of problems including allegations of a toxic work culture, threatened strike action from Test players and the risk of an emergency general meeting called by local clubs.

"Isn't all of this exhausting?" former Wales back-rower Jonathan Thomas wrote on Instagram last week.

"For the first time in my life I can't watch anything to do with Welsh Rugby. It's so unbelievably negative."

Thomas won four league titles during a decade at the Ospreys, who are able to include the likes of former World Rugby player of the year Shane Williams and ex-All Blacks Jerry Collins, Justin Marshall and Marty Holah among their almuni.

"But if Cardiff, Dragons and Scarlets stay and not the Ospreys then count me out," Thomas said.

"You are single handedly turning people away from the sport."

- Edwards' swag -

The current crop of Ospreys include Wales co-captains Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan.

Hooker Lake started against England while flanker Morgan is set miss the whole of the Six Nations due to injury.

The pair have already agreed to join English side Gloucester for next season amid all the uncertainty.

"I can't see how it would work," Morgan told Welsh television channel S4C last week.

"There is so much talent in the villages that are in the Ospreys area.

"We've all supported the Ospreys growing up. Where would you go next?"

The Wales No. 10 jersey is one of rugby's most iconic shirts, immortalised in the 1970s by Max Boyce's song "The Outside-Half Factory".

The latest from that production line, following on from Barry John, Phil Bennett and Dan Biggar, is Ospreys playmaker Dan Edwards, who is set to start against Les Bleus this weekend.

"He's got a little bit of a swag about him," Wales and Ospreys icon Biggar told AFP.

"He's got some confidence which I think you need.

"He has got the potential, he has got the character to wear some criticism, some tough times and come out the other end."

On Sunday, head coach Steve Tandy, another former Osprey, and his side welcome Six Nations holders France, who are coming off a dominant 36-14 win over Ireland.

Wales are without a win in the Six Nations since 2023 and have conceded an average of 49.6 points in Tandy's five games in charge.

"I can guarantee you there will be nobody in Wales working harder than what he is to make sure that Wales are more competitive and get results," Biggar said.

"I'm sure he will get that team improved. It's just a little bit of a longer process than he expected."

B.Carter--ThChM