RUGBY UNION: Thank God this season's finished

THIS will go down as the worst season in the history of Welsh rugby and I, for one, cannot wait for it to finish.

We have had a few low points over the years, but for the three 'D's of despair, disputes and disappointment you cannot beat 2002- 03.

Wales have not won a game since last November, and suffered a first-ever Six Nations whitewash.

The domestic club scene lurched from one crisis to another amid the rows over re-structuring - the championship became a dead duck, and the Welsh Rugby Union finally admitted it was pounds 70million in debt.

We have since had more disputes Wales players' wages, Newport's Percy Montgomery pushing over a touch judge, and an ugly brawl between Phil John of Llanelli and Neath's Duncan Jones.

To cap it all, we get Newport and Ebbw Vale at each other's throats, threatening to rip up the agreement for next season's regional plans.

The most alarming thing is the public reaction. Fans are voting with their feet and club attendances are down.

Bridgend won the Welsh Premier Division title last week, and deserve fulsome congratulations, losing only one league match.

But once the plans for next season were agreed, all the momentum went out of the title race. Qualification for Europe was no longer an issue and some clubs fielded weakened sides.

Not Bridgend's fault, but it must be acknowledged. Over the past few weeks even Steve Hansen asked clubs to rest Wales players ahead of the summer tour.

Did anyone offer a refund or compensation package to fans who had forked out for season tickets expecting to see the best players?

Did anyone consult the sponsors or the broadcasters? Of course they didn't, because at the heart of the Welsh Rugby Union is a conceit that makes them feel there is no need to explain or justify.

Perhaps they can justify this. Why were players vastly over-paid to play for Wales three years ago? Some, like Neil Jenkins, were picking up pounds 12,000 per game.

Why do the current players have to suffer for that incompetence? Some were told they could tour Australia and New Zealand, and get virtually nothing.

And why are many of those committee men, who messed up so badly, still in office?

I'll admit I'm looking forward to Wales playing against the Barbarians, it is a fixture purely about rugby. The Baa Baas play the game in the right style.

But more than anything I am looking forward to drawing a line under this season and praying things will get a whole lot better.

Interview: DAVID WILLIAMS

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