Martyn and Shanks, failed by their region or the union?

I was 15 when Welsh rugby was regionalised but even I can remember the promises that were made.

We began with 5 regions and the vow that players would be centrally contracted to the Welsh Rugby Union ensuring that, even though we would now have less teams playing at the highest level, no player would be left out in the cold and talent would be nurtured for the sake of national rugby and the success of the regions in Europe.

So here we are 8 years down the line, players still contracted to their region and fans disappointed in the way legends of the Welsh game are being treated.

This week has brought the news that both world class flanker Martyn Williams and 70 times capped centre Tom Shanklin will be released from Cardiff Blues. Chairman Peter Thomas points to a financial motive for both of these decisions.

As fans and armchair pundits we have short memories.

We should not be shocked that Martyn is to leave the region, it has always been his intention to finish his 'club' career at the end of this season, indicating that he would take up a special agreement with the WRU, meaning he would be contracted to them up to and through the 2011 RWC ending his professional career at the end of the tournament.

It would seem Martyn has no intention to play for the Blues beyond the end of this season. So why should they extend his contract, paying his undoubtably high wage packet, for him to only represent Wales in New Zealand later this year and never pull on the regions colours again?

The expectation, from the Blues and MW, was that the union would pick up the reigns and sort out a deal. Silence from the WRU and whispers from inside the Blues would suggest that Martyn has been unable to arrange this though, surprising considering Warren Gatland's very public desire for Martyn to be part of his World Cup squad.

The double announcement by the Blues also sees Tom Shanklin exit the region. Today, Shanks goes under the knife after sustaining another knee injury.

Tom, a double grand slam winner, when fit, has been a staple of the Welsh squad. A solid performer with consistent displays no matter who his midfield partner has been. However, it is well documented that Shanklin has never toured with the Lions, highlighting his bad luck with injuries. After selection in 2009, Tom was cruelly hit with a shoulder injury in one of the Blues final games of the season, forcing reconstructive surgery and a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

It isn't just his shoulder that has fallen foul to injury though, with many knocks to his knees being picked up in the last few years, an observer must ask themselves, how much rugby does he have left in him?

Of course it is unfair for any player to be let go, but at 31, would Tom's re-inclusion in the Blues squad and more importantly their playing budget keep younger talent out?

The crux of the matter is that sport is business and no matter how steeped in history and pride our national game is, there is no room for sentiment in rugby in 2011.

This afternoon a statement was released by the NG Dragons and Robin Sowden-Taylor to announce the flanker's retirement.

I wish Robin the best of luck with whatever direction he takes next but at the same time he is probably the best example of the failure of regionalisation and a lesson for the future.

RST has been capped 8 times. A promising talent from his teenage years, he was regarded as the natural successor to Martyn Williams at openside for both the Blues and Wales.

Unlike many modern professionals though, Williams has been treated well by injury, meaning Robin has missed out on those opportunities to step up and shine and with Sam Warburton coming through in the past few seasons, RST couldn't even depend on Williams' imminent retirement as a means to more caps.

And now, we run the risk of this happening again as Martyn departs the Blues leaving Warburton as first choice openside, another young talent waits in the wings in the form of Josh Navidi.

Even closer in age than Martyn and Robin, these two young talents and many others in positions where we have strength in depth, run the risk of repeating recent history all because we're still yet to realise the promises made by WRU for regional rugby in Wales.

Autumn Series 2010 - Week 2

With so many stand out performances over the weekend, I really didn’t think I’d be sitting down this Monday evening ready to write about an international doping scandal.

No sport is immune from cheating and the use of performance enhancers; but rugby has done well over the past few seasons to remove it from the upper echelons of the game. The South African rugby union has sent a clear message that they will not condone cheating by sending Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson who have both tested positive for an illegal stimulant straight home.

More details will filter through over the next few days and as a rugby community we can only hope that this deception does not spread further throughout the team who are of course, current world champions.

England v. Australia

More comfortable with the neutral tag and delighted by the feast of talent in front of me I was excited at kick off on Saturday. My prediction was for the Aussie backs to be rampant, "James O'Connor will set the stadium alight" I promised. But I was wrong. The gulf between northern and hemisphere rugby that I talked about last week was closed and YOUNG English talent came to the fore.

Chris Ashton's sublime talent is no secret to Northampton fans, after taking the Premiership player of the season for 2009/10 it was inevitable that his try count for England would start to climb imminently and on Saturday he lived up to expectation.

A first half try and second half run in that will go down in Twickenham legend should've been enough to earn the 23 year old the man of the match award.

...but alas a huge performance that ended with injury just before the hour mark landed Tigers scrum half Ben Youngs the end of game bottle of champagne.

England are finally putting faith in the younger players coming through and are reaping rewards for that.

My only criticism of the side though is of Courtney Lawes. The boy is probably one of the biggest second rows in the world at the moment but just doesn't seem to have the confidence to back himself. When the Northampton player finally does realise his strength and capabilities no one will stand in his way.

(Let's hope this doesn't happen before the next 2 rounds of Heineken Cup action when my Blues boys face the Saints in back to back matches!)

Wales v. South Africa

Frequent score updates flew through on the text from my dad whilst I was at work on Saturday. I watched the first half of the England game from the gantry and the second half in the 3D production truck, but the majority of my time was spent with my eyes firmly transfixed on my phone...

It means nothing now when I say it in retrospect, but I had predicted a big performance from double try scorer George North. Wales wingers were starting to look processed, like they'd all come from the same mould; a short, nimble, Shane Williams shaped, mould.

North's tremendous physicality served him well on Saturday, combine that with his great step and natural flair and he really is a prospect for the future... specifically next year's world cup!

The world cup is less than a year away and as a nation we have faith in Gatland that, whilst we're losing matches, he is building for next year's competition. Which begs the question, why is Stephen Jones still our starting stand off when there are so many 10s waiting in the wings.

And is Gatland's decision to persevere with Phillips the right one? There is no denying his abilities but a change at scrum half earlier in the game on Saturday would've made the world of difference. Ben Youngs showed for England last weekend that good, speedy service is key, we have world class backs and quick ball could make all the difference for us.

When you look at Wales as a team there are many top class individuals but unfortunately it's small margins that mean we're losing games.

...and terrible refereeing. I don't want to blame Steve Walsh for Saturday's loss and I don't want to dwell on his negative impact on the match. However it's worth a mention that a vote of no confidence meant he lost his refereeing position in New Zealand and he now works under the flag of Australia. There are many marks on Walsh's record with many arguing he has no place in international rugby, it is unfair that it was a Wales game that was his first game back on the international stage. Let's hope it's his last.

LV= Anglo Welsh Cup

Finally, a quick mention of the LV= cup and with the exception of the Dragons a good weekend for Welsh teams. The Ospreys 8 tries in Bridgend and the Blues draw against a strong Exeter side were great spectacles on Friday night, not to mention the Scarlets victory over London Irish on Sunday.

If the Anglo-Welsh offers nothing else as a competition, the glimpse of the young talent that Wales has to offer was unbelievably exciting. Let's hope these young stars get further chances to shine this season.