**Sam Warburton Calls for Welsh Rugby’s Future in the Premiership Amid Soaring Cross-Border Interest**
Former Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton has reignited the debate around Welsh involvement in English club rugby after voicing his belief that Welsh rugby “needs the Premiership” if it is to thrive once more. His comments came in the wake of last weekend’s highly-anticipated Premiership fixture between Bristol Bears and Bath, held at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium—an event which, according to Warburton, spotlights the growing gulf between the rugby landscapes on either side of the Severn.
Saturday’s match, dubbed ‘Big Day Out’, marked Bristol Bears’ bold attempt to stage a Gallagher Premiership game in the heart of Welsh rugby, resulting in an impressive turnout of 51,095 spectators. The fixture not only offered fans a thrilling derby—which Bristol won convincingly 36-14—but also highlighted the contrast with Welsh domestic rugby’s own showpiece event, Judgement Day. That annual United Rugby Championship double-header, featuring all four Welsh regions at the same venue three weeks earlier, drew a comparatively meagre attendance of 28,328.
The chasm between the crowds has fuelled renewed calls for an Anglo-Welsh league, a concept previously floated but yet to materialise, despite fleeting discussions around merging the Premiership and URC with a dedicated Anglo-Welsh conference. While those talks ultimately collapsed, the debate around the future direction of Welsh professional rugby continues to gather momentum, fuelled in part by the allure and security offered by the English system.
Warburton, who was present on punditry duty for the game in Cardiff, reflected with a sense of longing at the vibrancy he observes across the channel. “It’s lovely being a neutral at the Principality for a change; I can simply enjoy the rugby,” he remarked. “From the moment this game was announced, I thought it was a really smart initiative. Now it’s been justified, with more than 50,000 showing up.”
The ex-skipper, widely regarded as one of Wales’ rugby icons, went on to compare the atmosphere and facilities encountered week in, week out within the Premiership. “Having covered the Premiership all season, I can’t help but look around in envy at what’s offered—be it Kingsholm or the AJ Bell, stadiums that consistently buzz with energy. Bath’s games are always a spectacle, and Bristol too. I honestly believe Welsh rugby needs something of this sort.”
However, Warburton then turned his focus to the more challenging, underlying question: “The big thing, of course, is whether the Premiership actually needs us. That’s the million-dollar question. As much as Wales could benefit, the product across the bridge is already so strong. The turnout, the jeopardy, the whole package—it’s something Welsh rugby desperately needs.”
His comments have come as figures within English rugby also weighed in on the idea. Bristol head coach Pat Lam, in a recent interview, described an Anglo-Welsh league as something that “makes sense” for both parties, reflecting on his own positive experiences facing Welsh sides and suggesting that the historical ties and passionate support could lay the foundation for genuine cross-border rivalry.
Lam referenced the shared rugby heritage between Bristol and Cardiff, recalling historic fixtures that would routinely sell out both in south Wales and the west of England. “There’s a close affinity between the Welsh and Bristolians,” he said. “While I’m not the guy to make those decisions, the appetite for an Anglo-Welsh competition certainly seems strong, and I could see it succeeding.”
Nonetheless, the logistics and politics of such an integration remain a sticking point. To date, attempts to unite the English and Welsh professional leagues have repeatedly stumbled over financial, structural, and governance issues—not to mention the question of whether English sides would be prepared to dilute their own product for the sake of cross-border expansion.
As things stand, the future remains uncertain. Yet, Warburton’s remarks echo a growing sentiment within Welsh rugby circles—one that recognises the need for bold change if Wales is to recapture the domestic and international glory of years gone by. In the meantime, events like ‘Big Day Out’ will only fuel speculation, as fans and decision-makers alike weigh up where Welsh rugby’s best interests truly lie.