I genuinely cannot see any Welsh people getting behind a West (of England) team. We're not English. Without derailing from sport into politics, many of us don't consider ourselves British and that portion of the population is growing which is why I believe "GB" is off-putting. The initial idea behind a Celtic team is a starter because most Welsh, Irish and Scottish people would feel an affinity with each other and Celtic identity. That isn't to say that we all
hate England. Admittedly the bulk of us enjoy seeing England beaten in sport (oddly I would feel that way about union and soccer, cricket I don't like anyway, but not about league maybe because it doesn't make sense to go from supporting guys like James Roby and Alex Walmsley 11 months of the year to supporting against them for 1) but that is, except for the hard of thinking, banter. The reality is though that the vast majority of us identify as Celts which mean there is a connection between Wales, Ireland and Scotland (Isle of Man, Cornwall and Brittany too).
The meat of the Celtic concept might not be there but people will at least not turn away from it immediately. If England wants a West v East series, great. It could potentially be entertaining if done right. I'd watch it and as a Saints fan would want the West to win in the same way as I like to see Queensland win SoO because in the NRL I follow Brisbane. But it should be what it is, an English concept and competition. You're not going to lose a lot by not including us other than the odd Regan Grace here and there not playing for West. But Welsh people aren't going to thank you for making out that we're part of the west of England
.
I tend to agree with this. The divide in England (and in Wales actually) is overwhelmingly north-south. I think in Scotland you have a bit of east v west as you do in Ireland but as with Wales it's hard enough getting a national team together in league nevermind dividing one up. Why did "State of Origin" never work in England though because there is a natural and historic rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire (and most people with a league background would still identify as one over the other even if technically these days they may come from Merseyside, Greater Manchester etc.)?