Former Natal Sharks back row Marc de Marigny – brother of former Italy fly half Roland - has come up with his own suggestion to improve Welsh Premiership rugby and by extension the regional and national sides.

The one time captain of the South Africa 7s squad has been au fait with the Welsh rugby scene for some 20 years after making 61 appearances for the Drovers, the last in 2011 and was an interested spectator at the Indigo Premiership game between Llandovery and Cardiff.

Cardiff speed and power made for a 41-21 although in Llandovery’s defence they were short of key players in four positions

Now settled in Llandovery, de Marigny made it clear that the Cardiff way was the way to improve standards.

“It is clear to me that the system Cardiff have favoured – top team in the URC and second team in the Premiership - is the path to take and should be followed by the three other regions.”

“It was obvious that the speed and tempo set by Cardiff was down to the continuing contact that their players are getting in training with the first team regulars”

“Have the Premiership made up of these regional reserve XVs plus the best eight teams at Premiership level and you get close to the South African model.”

Super Rugby sides Sharks, Bulls, Stormers and Lions have their reserve sides in the Currie Cup where they face teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces.

It is the premier domestic competition, in South African teams and is watched by big crowds up and down the Republic, even rivalling attendances at URC games.

The tournament is regarded as the cornerstone of South Africa's rugby heritage, and the coveted gold trophy remains the most prestigious prize in the country’s domestic rugby.

In Wales, the regional reserve sides might take the name Cardiff Rags, Llanelli, Sea Hawks and Wyverns and they would be joined in a 12 team league by two clubs from each region.

Perhaps Pontypridd and Merthyr (Cardiff), Swansea and Aberavon or Bridgend (Ospreys), Newport and Ebbw Vale or RGC (Dragons) and Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins (Scarlets) with the famous name Llanelli reserved for the Scarlets second team.

De Marigny went back to his Currie Cup days, remembering that the top 4 sides always faced huge challenges from their less celebrated opponents.

“This would work very well in Wales because of the fierce rivalry that has always existed at club level.”

“The incentive for the club sides in facing the big boys of the professional game - albeit the second string - would be huge.”

“We found in South Africa that the motivation of the little man to knock down the big boys led to some really tight games and close results and there were rarely mismatches.”

“The pro side should, on paper, win most battles but I wonder if the Rags would fancy a cold wet night in Pontypridd and the Wyverns against an accomplished semi-pro Newport?”

And would the Sea Hawks have a stroll at Jason Hyatt’s Aberavon, Llanelli at Euros Evans’s Llandovery?

The chances are that if there was a clash of fixtures on a certain day - Cardiiff home to Zebre in the URC and The Rags away to Pontypridd in the Premiership – that the attendance at Sardis Road would be bigger than the one at Cardiff Arms Park.

Such a fixture and such a competition would see excitement and expectation return to the old age, full blooded Welsh club game.

The other great benefit would be that all the playing squad of the regional sides would have regular competitive rugby and we would see less of the promising youngster spend a season on the bench, watching rather than playing.

If the regions had players still in danger of not getting games, let them lease them out to the clubs on a permanent basis for one year.

Such a structure as backed by de Marigny would give an extra edge to the Premiership and give that increase in tempo that is needed.

The WRU would have to take the bull by the horns and fund the eight semi pro club teams with more cash to make them as competitive and prepared as possible to face the might of the professional.

That is another matter but de Marigny’s observations and recommendations at least need to be heard and reflected on by the powers that be.