“I think she has come into the job and realised how much of a mess it is.”

That was the instant reaction  from Sportin Wales co-founder and international rugby player Alex Cuthbert, after speaking to Wales Rugby Union (WRU) CEO Abi Tierney following her presentation on the union’s five year plan for Welsh rugby.

While the structure of the plan is yet to be revealed, the union have set out five goals to measure the success for their strategy:

1. Both men’s and women’s national teams consistently ranked in world top five.

2. Club teams challenging in the play-offs of URC and Celtic Challenge.

3. Retain and grow the number of active participants.

4. Financial sustainability at all levels.

5. Increase positivity of the game among the Welsh public.

Speaking on the Sportin Wales podcast, Cuthbert expressed his trepidation that the first couple of years of the five year plan will be difficult.

“I think the first couple of years are gonna be tough,” Cuthbert said on the podcast.

“Next year is gonna be really tough. And then, obviously, then I think they’re gonna have to make a decision where the four reasons is the way forward as a business.

“I really think that’s gonna be one of the big talking points come September, whether they can bridge that gap. Because obviously, the only way they can bridge that gap is probably taken away from the regions.”

The ‘gap’ Cuthbert is referring to is the £35million spread over the next five years of funding gap to the regions that is the biggest challenge facing the WRU. While the union maintains its aspiration to continue with four regional teams, they remain just that: aspirations.

Ahead of next season, the four teams will receive a salary budget of £4.5m, a reduction from the £5.2m from the 2023/24 season, which was already a weak financial position to work from.

The extent of the WRU’s financial woes were clear in Tierney’s presentation. As well as the £35m funding gap, the union is £20m in debt and there is £15m of annual deficit.

Cuthbert. though, is confident that the route back to stability is through the national teams.

“The best asset the business has is the senior men’s and women’s teams,” he added.

“They’re the ones that bring in the money. The presentation revealed that £10m is made from filling the Principality for Six Nations and autumn international games. In my eyes, that has to be the main focus.

“There’s going to be some tough decisions come October time, in terms of trying to bridge that gap and whether three or four regions is the best way forward. I’m glad I’m not at the top making these decisions because it’s going to be tough.”

While the WRU have announced the place they want Welsh rugby to get to by 2029, the ‘how’ of the situation is still to be fully determined.

It has been estimated that an operating budget of £6-6.5 million is necessary for the regions to be competitive with the Irish and Scottish sides in the URC. With £18m set to be split between four this coming season, there is a valid argument that three lots of £6m should be going to three regions, with one missing out.

“How are they going to do this?” Cuthbert asked.

“That’s the question everyone wants to know now. How are they going to somehow put more money within the regions when they have these financial holes.

“Tierney spoke about filling a gap of £35m in five years and even with some of the debt being offset, that is a big ask. The more people that are supportive of this plan, the better. We all need to be on the same page.

“I think the biggest issue in the past 30 years is that the clubs and regions are not on the same page as the WRU. The union hasn’t trusted the regions and visa-versa.

“If you look at the other countries, particularly Ireland, they seem to be all on the same page.”

The outcome of the plan has been forecast by those hoping to shape the future. How the WRU goes about setting out their new future remains to be seen with further explanation on this expected in September.