Rupert Moon's uprising in the north can only make Wales rugby stronger

When Wales were condemned to a shock World Cup defeat by Western Samoa in 1991, the result generated the immortal quip that the vanquished hosts were lucky they hadn’t been playing ‘the whole of Samoa’.

Now, the nation who had to endure mockery back then are ready to turn that sentiment around in their favour, with a warning which will be heard across the border and far beyond. In the aftermath of the record 30-3 demolition of England, Rupert Moon has a message about how the current Welsh golden era in Test rugby can lead to even greater success, with a harnessing of untapped resources.

The former Wales scrum-half’s vision is based on the correction of a geographical imbalance. At long last, with planning and purpose, the north is rising. For a country which has largely based its national sport on talent unearthed and refined in a narrow ‘corridor’ around a 65-mile stretch of motorway in the south, this is akin to a revolution.

Uprising: Rupert Moon is general manager of Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC 1404), a team from North Wales

Up in Colwyn Bay, Moon is general manager of Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC 1404). He can see a time coming when Wales make full use of their entire population, to telling effect. ‘The rest of the world should be worried about what we can do when we’re choosing players from the whole country,’ he said. ‘With a population of three million, not having a clear pathway for a third of that population couldn’t be ignored.

‘There’s been a glass ceiling on North Wales, but there has been a recognition from the union that the Wales team might as well be called South Wales. So, Wales is becoming truly united and that can only benefit the national team.’

All four of the professional Welsh regions are situated along the M4 from Newport to Llanelli, as are most of the traditionally powerful clubs. George North is the latest, rare example of a northerner who has made his mark down south, but far too much talent has slipped through the net, due to daunting journey times and what used to be an inadequate rugby structure.

But the Welsh Rugby Union have developed Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay, in conjunction with Conwy Council, as a state-of-the-art base. There is a vast indoor pitch and extensive gym, more tailored to rugby requirements than even the national team’s HQ in the Vale of Glamorgan. Outside, there was a full house of 6,500 when Wales played England in an Under 20 international on March 15.

RGC age-group teams are well established, but this is the inaugural season for the ‘senior’ team – a mis-leading term for a side heavily populated by teenagers. Yet, despite their novice status, they are currently top of Division One East, in the fourth tier of Welsh rugby.

State-of-the-art: The Welsh Rugby Union have developed Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay

On Saturday, while all attention will be on the regions’ double-header at the Millennium Stadium, RGC’s clash with Rumney a few miles away may have more profound consequences for the future of the Wales team.

‘We want to be in the Welsh Premiership within five years,’ said Moon. ‘I believe within 10 years we can emulate what Connacht have done in Ireland, as a new Welsh professional region. We’ve got a great foundation to do that, with the facilities in place now.’

In North Wales, nearby football giants on Merseyside and in Manchester have often enticed the majority sporting interest, but Moon believes there is also a huge appetite for the oval-ball game, adding: ‘For our first game here, we had 1,800 people turn up – for a team with no history, playing in Division One East. North Wales is thirsty for rugby. A lot of kids have had their imagination ignited by Wales winning three Grand Slams and a championship in the last nine years. Our junior sections are jammed full. At Wrexham, where they went through some dark times, there are massive numbers. We are trying to harness all that interest.’

As part of his vision, Moon is adamant that the north will eventually provide its fair share of the national team, adding: ‘Our ambition is to provide 33 per cent of the Wales side. It will happen – it’s just a matter of time.’

Demolished: Wales beat England 30-3 in Cardiff to win the Six Nations crown in 2013

Geographical imbalance: All four professional rugby regions in Wales are based in the south of the country

Striding down south: Scarlets wing George North

Those who have come from the region and made their mark despite the odds against them are understandably supportive of what Moon, his coaches, support staff and players are aiming to achieve in Colwyn Bay.

North, who moved from Anglesey to Llandovery College at the age of 15, said: ‘It’s great to see what’s happening there. When I was involved, there was a lot of eagerness to get rugby going, but they didn’t have the funding or the numbers. Now the funding is there, they have fantastic facilities in Colwyn Bay, the kids are seeing Wales doing well and want to play rugby.

‘North Wales people say that all rugby happens in the M4 corridor but there’s a lot of passion for the game up there too and a big population to pick from. I made the sacrifice of leaving home at a young age to get to this level, but in five to 10 years’ time, players in the north might not have to do that – they might be able to play professional rugby within their own region. That would be great.’

Robin McBryde was born in Bangor and went on to play for Wales at hooker before becoming the national team’s forwards coach. As a close friend of Moon, he is especially delighted at the work being done by his former team-mate.

Target: Moon wants 33% of the Welsh national team to come from North Wales

‘There has always been talent in North Wales, the age-old problem has been how to give them a platform to progress to regional and national rugby,’ he said.

‘Now, the RGC set-up at Eirias Park gives them an identity and a team to play for. It is important that we invest in the whole game nationally, not just in a little area around the M4. There is a big demand for rugby in the north and getting this team up and running is going to pay dividends. It would be fantastic if RGC can win the league this year and from a national point of view, it would be great to one day see them become the fifth professional region.’

For England and other rival countries, it has been hard enough facing ‘South Wales’ in recent years, so the prospect of facing the whole of Wales is an alarming one.