While it would take a remarkable turn of events over the coming months, it is not impossible.
The 12-strong WRU board voted “unanimously” to cut the number of professional teams.
Of the four professional regions, Swansea-based Ospreys are perceived to be the team under greatest threat of being cut.
That is because owners Y11 are now in talks with the WRU to buy Cardiff and only one of the three future clubs is to be based in west Wales.
WRU director of rugby Dave Reddin repeated on Saturday, following Wales’ victory over Italy, the governing body was pushing ahead with its proposals and there was “no plan b”.
But could the rebel clubs – led by the CGRU district within the Ospreys region – stop those proposals?
They want to change the selection process for council members who sit on the WRU board and have new elections within the next 14 days.
This could see all four places taken by district members – and potentially from the same district – rather than the current two district and two national.
If that resolution passed and with the selection of new independent chairs of both the WRU and PRB to be decided, that could potentially change half – six – of the WRU board and, with it, enough influence to scupper any proposals.
Unsurprisingly, the WRU board rejects those recommendations, saying: “It is essential that we press ahead with the decision that we have made which is:
“To reduce the number of professional clubs to three which will enable improved sustainability of funding to these clubs; and that we invest £28m over the next five years in our SRC (second-tier Super Rygbi Cymru) teams, our pathways up from the community game, player development centres, improved coaching and developing our domestic and international women’s game.”
