Kingsley-Jones enters debate on state of Welsh game
December 6, 2001

Phil Kingsley Jones, the Welsh manager of Jonah Lomu, last night joined the continuing debate into the future of professional rugby.

New Zealand-based Jones believes his native country has to cut the number of professional teams.

He told the Western Mail, "I don't think you have got the money or players in Wales to have more than six sides.

"I think they should be spread geographically for the European Cup. Cardiff and Newport might be stand- alone teams with variations to their names, but you have to be careful not to alienate the rest of Welsh rugby.

"If it was just Newport, for example, not Newport Steelers, would the fans of Pontypool, Cross Keys, Abertillery, Ebbw Vale, Tredegar and Newbridge support them?

"The Super 10 was initially treated with scepticism in New Zealand, but it has developed into the Super 12 with such a degree of success the average crowd of Wellington Hurricanes is 32,000."

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