Connacht manager warns against loss of Wales' rugby brand-names

[icWales] THE team manager of threatened Irish province Connacht is warning that Welsh rugby should not ditch brand-names such as Llanelli and Pontypridd.

John Fallon says the efforts of such teams in Heineken Cup and Parker Pen Challenge tournaments demand that moves towards forming provincial and merged teams in Wales should be re-examined.

Fallon says, "What would it mean to the Irish if the present Welsh clubs didn't continue to come to play in Celtic and European competitions?

"It's been the beauty of the competitions, we all grew up hearing of the Pontypools, and the Llanellis and all the French ones, there's a huge attraction in playing these clubs.

"If they create generic names it loses that appeal. Let's face it - Welsh rugby would be poorer if itdoesn't have the Pontypridds and Llanellis.

"It will be a huge price to pay for it all."

Fallon speaks out on S4C's Y Byd Ar Bedwar tonight at 9pm.

He adds, "It's very hard to know what is the optimum number of teams. If you had six good quality scrum halves emerging and only four teams to put them in, players are going to lose out. I don't think the formula has been established by any country."