The reasons Welsh rugby's mass player cull is happening as coaches forced to break shattering news

It’s always a time of sad farewells at this point in the year, with players leaving clubs at the end of the season. But never before has Welsh rugby’s departure lounge been so full, with so many goodbyes to be said. We already have no fewer than 41 players confirmed as exiting the four regions, with the Ospreys yet to announce their released roster. There is some serious squad trimming going on, with numbers going down from the mid-50s to the mid-40s in some cases.

So what’s going on? Why is there so much movement out of the door? Well, there are two key factors. With no United Rugby Championship matches on international weekends, the regions don’t need to carry so many players any more. Then there are the financial pressures coming out of Covid, amid uncertainty over WRU payments and a £20m loan to be paid off. It all means the regions are having to cut their cloth according to their means.

We have spoken to all four of them to get their take on the situation. This is what they had to say.

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When Dean Ryan was asked this week how the Gwent region were affording their high-profile signings, he explained there would be more players leaving than arriving. He has been true to his word. While 10 players have been recruited, there are 20 departing in all, with 16 announced to add to the four who have already gone during the season, as the likes of Jonah Holmes, Adam Warren, Dan Baker, Greg Bateman, Joe Maksymiw and Max Williams move on.

“This year is probably the biggest shift in squads that Wales has experienced for a long time,” said Director of Rugby Ryan.

“Sadly, we have a lengthy list of departures. Nobody enjoys those type of