Seimon Williams does not hold back in Welsh Rugby: What Went Wrong?, a brutal account of the demise of Welsh rugby in modern times. But what may surprise the casual observer is how far back Williams traces the timeline. To anyone under the age of 60, the grand slam years of 2005-2019 have all but erased the dismal 1980s and 90s – and those of that age or older can fondly recall the heady days of the 1970s. But Williams shows how when the game turned professional in 1995, Wales never grasped how to move with the times.
He argues that the work of coaches like Warren Gatland and players like Alyn Wyn Jones have masked the deficiencies in the Welsh Rugby Union’s (WRU) strategy – or lack thereof. If you have a vague understanding of the aims of the Gang Of Six, or want to know just who was responsible for forming the four regions, then Williams’ account will give you an incredibly detailed analysis of the main movers and their motivations.
He doesn’t pull any punches either, and is confident in naming and shaming those in the WRU he feels are responsible for the decline in Wales’ national sport that can be traced all the way back to 1980. Essential – if not optimistic – reading for the Welsh rugby fan.
Welsh Rugby: What Went Wrong?, Seimon Williams (Y Lolfa)
Price: £9.99. Info: here
words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES