Wales
Young confident peace can reign in Wales
ESPN Staff
January 7, 2014
What does the future hold for the four Welsh regions? © Getty Images
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Wasps coach Dai Young is confident peace will break out in Wales as the battle between the regions and the Union shows no signs of abating.

Young is no stranger to the inner politics of Welsh rugby having coached at the Cardiff Blues between 2003 and 2011. As the Welsh regions wait on details of a new Participation Agreement handed to them from the Welsh Rugby Union, January 31 - the date by which the regions want a new deal signed - ticks ever closer.

But Young is optimistic the two warring parties will be able to find some compromise. "From a proud Welshman's point of view I just hope things get resolved in Wales," Young told Wales Online. "Am I worried about it? No I'm not to be quite honest with you; I'm just enjoying my time at Wasps.

"But I would like to think they will all pull together and do the right thing for Wales, because I'm sure they will at some stage. The politicians and the power brokers will do what they think is right.

"And there's enough people down there, enough quality people in Wales to pull together to get it right."

There may yet be hope that the dispute does not end up in court with the Guardian reporting the WRU's stance towards the regions may be softening and it "is ready to look at the agreement as a whole with an emphasis on developing young players and keeping them in Wales".

In contrasting statements last week, the regions hit out at the WRU while the Union, in a letter to the member clubs, made it clear it would not bow down to the regions' wish to play in the Rugby Champions Cup. But the Union, according to the newspaper, is looking to draft in an independent mediator to help solve the impasse.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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