The best team each Welsh region can now field next season after major signings and mass clearouts

It's been something of an annus horribilis for Welsh rugby.

The national team has floundered, while the four professional sides have struggled both at home and in Europe. On the continental front, it was another whitewash, while in the United Rugby Championship, all four finished in the bottom half of the table.

Change is needed now more than ever, with issues right at the top of the Welsh game needing addressing urgently. The fact the regions have been in the dark about budgets for next year means that turning the corner will be undeniably harder for them.

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Regardless, business is still there to be done and the four sides have made some big changes to their squads. Some 41 players have been released from the respective teams so far, while a number of significant signings have been made.

As is ever the case, how often the four regions see their strongest sides out on the park, with international commitments, is the biggest issue, although there will be no direct clashes between URC and Wales games next season. With that in mind, here's the strongest teams each region can field next season.

It's been a tough season in the capital.

Highlights such as home victories over Leinster and Glasgow and isolation-defying performances against Toulouse and Harlequins were few and far between, with a series of disappointing results the norm. Worse than that was the application at times, with fans regularly questioning the environment.

Personnel changes might go a little way to changing that, but frank discussions are needed. Particularly as the inability to clear the decks completely due to contract extensions being