00:00Dan Hallett, the chairman of the Dragons' official supporters club, stressed the importance
00:07of making the WIU aware of supporters' dissatisfaction.
00:11We will keep these protests going until the end of October, when we potentially could have
00:17the decision, he told the BBC.
00:19Hallett emphasised that fans are not just casual observers, but long-term standing supporters,
00:25some following the Dragons and Scarletts, for decades.
00:27He also questioned the figures behind the two-team model, pointing to what he described
00:33as years of chronic mismanagement by the WIU, including poor investment choices and a lack
00:40of accountability.
00:42Fan forums have shown little appetite for an East Wales franchise.
00:47Many supporters indicated they would rather watch community clubs to travel to see games
00:53across the Severn Bridge or stop financially supporting Welsh Rugby altogether.
00:58Every journey has various points at which the ship starts to turn a little bit, and certainly
01:05everybody here is motivated towards a different future than the past, the recent past that we've
01:10had.
01:12Steve is a really important part of that strategy.
01:14He isn't the strategy.
01:15He's a key part of it.
01:17But all of us here are about building the systems and the process and the ecosystem around
01:22Welsh Rugby that creates sustainable success, not just short-term success.
01:28The WIU has acknowledged the challenges posed by the proposals.
01:32Director of Rugby, Dave Reddin, suggested that feedback is being taken seriously, noting,
01:37I don't want to get ahead of myself or take any shortcuts, but I can confidently say that
01:43our thinking is changing in positive ways as we progress.
01:48The debate has sparked wider discussions about the future of Welsh Rugby.
01:53With the consultation period ongoing, the outcome will significantly influence the structure
01:58of the sport in Wales, potentially reshaping the identity and support base of the professional
02:05game.
02:05Fans remain resolute, determined that their voices will be heard before any final decisions
02:11are made.
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