With the New Year fast approaching, it’s safe to say that 2023 has been one of the best in the 142-year history of the Welsh Rugby Union – and that’s saying a lot.

We had the very real threat of the Wales v England clash being canceled due to a proposed player strike, a contract freeze in men’s football, the appointment of a chairman and chief executive and a task force report that supported the claims in a BBC Documentary about misogyny and sexism in the governing body.

Surely 2024 will be a little calmer for Welsh rugby? Time will show this.

rugby correspondent Stefan Tomás Grab your crystal ball to predict the headlines we’ll see in 2024.

The emergence of a new star or two in Welsh rugby

Given that we are at the start of a new Rugby World Cup cycle, it seems the time has come for the Welsh management to inject some new blood into the national team. While the emphasis in the Six Nations is on winning, this summer’s tour of Australia is likely to see several players win their first caps.

Welsh rugby is going through a period of austerity at regional level, meaning all four teams have no choice but to push players from their academies into the senior teams. People like Mackenzie Martin, Eddie James, Efan Daniel, Lucas de la Rua, Morgan Morse, James Fender and Dan Edwards had time to play.

Expect Warren Gatland to include several non-international players in his wider Six Nations squad before they start playing in Australia this summer and during international matches in the autumn.

Short-term pain for long-term benefits as far as Wales is concerned

Wales coaches are under no illusions that they have their work cut out for them to build a team capable of success at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Gatland currently lacks the level of quality and experience he had during his first spell as Wales manager, but there are a number of promising players in the system who could be ready for 2027. Wales proved many pundits wrong by trading leaving a group is difficult in France, but this is practically the beginning of the journey for Gatland’s team.

The Welsh management will be very happy that Mackenzie Martin, Eddie James and Morgan Morse will get plenty of game time at regional level, which will only benefit the national team in the long term. As for 2024, the reality is that there will be a lot of turbulence and it could be a case of short-term pain for long-term gain.

Gatland will have no choice but to hand it over to the youngsters, but inconsistency can often be the consequence of this in the short term. From a Six Nations perspective, it goes without saying that the opener against Scotland in Cardiff will define the season, with Wales capable of winning at least three games during the championship.

Wales are expected to suffer a scalp or two in 2024, but there are likely to be a few setbacks along the way. Gatland is a natural winner, but his long-term aim will be to ensure Wales can compete in the latter stages of the 2027 World Cup.

To do this, they will have to feel some pain along the way.

A new vision of Welsh rugby

A new leadership of the WRU will begin to reign in early 2024. They have found themselves at a real crossroads with football following the publication of the Rafferty report and the low status of men’s professional football below national level.

New CEO Abi Tierney will no doubt have her own opinion on how the game should work, as will CEO Richard Collier-Caywood. The new board is expected to publish a new strategy for the game in Wales at all levels during the first half of 2024, which will make interesting reading.

The main challenge will be to ensure that the changes recommended in the Rafferty report are implemented, as well as finding a way forward for professional football. The Professional Rugby Board recently signed a six-year professional rugby deal, but from next season all four teams – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – will operate under a £4.5m salary cap.

Tierney will have to find a way to work with the PRB to generate revenue that can be used to ensure the four professional teams not only survive, but thrive. The three main areas of football that will be under scrutiny are women’s football, governance and regions.

To date, there is no business plan for FY25 and as a result it is difficult to see how regions can offer players a three-year contract. The regions are currently jointly sharing the burden of the £20 million CLBILS loan at 8.25%, which is also expected to be on the WRU’s agenda.

Tierney and the board also want to continue developing women’s football to close the gap with teams like England.

Stars leave for England and France

The reality is that playing budgets have fallen to £4.5m and keeping the best players in Wales will be almost impossible. George North has already joined ambitious PROD2 Provence Rugby for next season and Welsh midfielder Tomos Williams has signed for Gloucester, but there is more to come.

The Dragons are a number of flight risks, with Aaron Wainwright in the sights of Bristol Bears and Leicester Tigers, Leon Brown also wanted by Bristol, while Rio Dier is also on the shopping list of several English and French clubs. It will also be very difficult to retain some of the next generation, as demonstrated when Joe Hawkins left the Ospreys for Exeter Chiefs.

Women’s football reaches new heights

Women’s rugby in Wales has been on the rise in recent years, but it is important that the WRU does not rest on its laurels. Standing still is a step backwards in professional sport and the WRU will no doubt continue to build on the good work done by Executive Director of Rugby, Nigel Walker.

Ioan Cunningham’s side will look to take their game to the next level during the Six Nations, where they will face Italy in a historic game at the Principality Stadium. With increased investment and professional football, women’s football is expected to grow in Wales.

A series of exciting announcements for Cardiff fans

Let’s not forget that Cardiff managed to secure significant new investment in this club. Helford Capital Limited, led by British businessmen Phil Kemp and Neil Griffith, will become the club’s new majority shareholder.

It is clear that there are still many challenges ahead in the rugby ecosystem in Wales, but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel. Cardiff will currently be subject to the £4.5m salary cap, but in light of their new investment, this could be removed if the PRB votes yes.

During 2024, there are likely to be at least a few headlines that will make Cardiff fans smile. Will the new investors bring in one or two foreign players?

Perhaps they plan to invest in the academy and current senior coaching structure? Or could they even reveal plans for a new stadium or the redevelopment of the Cardiff Arms Park? Good times are ahead for Cardiff fans.