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Wales Online
4 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
The people in the room who are now deciding Welsh rugby's future
The people in the room who are now deciding Welsh rugby's future There are a number of key stakeholders A significant Welsh rugby meeting will be held on Wednesday (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Behind closed doors, the future structure of the professional game in Wales is being decided and all the signs are that big change is coming. The Welsh Rugby Union and its four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - are currently locked in discussions as to what the best way forward for Welsh rugby is. Just a few short months ago Welsh rugby was set to continue with four clubs but as it stands there is the very likely possibility of reducing to three or two professional sides, while a tiered funding model is also under consideration. A crucial Professional Rugby Board (PRB) meeting is set for Wednesday this week where the direction of travel is expected to become clearer. But who are the key players involved in shaping the direction of professional rugby in Wales? Here are the people in the room and influencing talks in the corridors of power. WRU and Cardiff Of course, WRU CEO Abi Tierney and chair Richard Collier-Keywood are key players here. As CEO the onus is on Tierney to reach a solution with the professional clubs to take to the WRU board for approval. Tierney had settled on a new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25) which would have resulted in both fixed and an increased level of funding but crucially the debt acquired during Covid would also get refinanced. Article continues below All four sides were about to sign but the WRU's takeover of Cardiff after the club fell into administration changed everything. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. In the end the Dragons signed PRA 25 but both the Ospreys and Scarlets had serious doubts over the fairness of the union owning Cardiff, fearing they may turn the capital city club into a "super region" at the expense of the other three. They refused to sign, which prompted the WRU to activate the two-year notice clause on the previous PRA and set in motion big change. As a result, PRA 25 is off the table for the west Wales clubs and there is no going back, meaning a new structure for the professional game is in the offing. Tierney is tasked with coming up with the optimum structure for the professional game. The consistently poor performances of the men's national team who have lost a record 17 Test matches on the bounce will have financial ramifications for the rest of the game. As far as the WRU are concerned they have to find a way to get the national team winning consistently again because this pays for the rest of the game in Wales. With this in mind chief financial officer Leighton Davies, who is also the chief commercial officer, has a big part to play. The WRU needs to find the best model where it cannot just fund professional teams to survive but also give them the platform to thrive. It is accepted for the men's national team to get back to pre-2019 levels it needs professional teams competing for European silverware every season, which means the playing budgets need to be in the region of £9m, with significantly higher investment into the academies. Can they do this with four professional clubs? PRB chair Malcolm Wall - who is also on the WRU board - will also have a big role to play, while the likes of independent non-executive directors like Andrew Williams and Jamie Roberts will inevitably have a say. It would also be very strange if the WRU's new director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin was not also consulted. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Reddin does not start in a permanent capacity until September but he is heavily involved in the search for a head coach and must surely have an opinion on what the optimum structure for Welsh rugby looks like. Dragons RFC The Dragons have signed PRA 25 which means they will have fixed and increased funding for the next three years. Historically they have been the weakest Welsh club but have the best balance sheet and own their own stadium. There are four key figures here in the ownership group which includes the chair David Wright along with David Buttress and Hoyoung Huh. Highly-rated CEO Rhys Blumberg also represents the Dragons on the PRA, so he is also a key figure here. Ospreys As the CEO, Lance Bradley has been the voice of the Ospreys for the past 18 months and has regularly fronted up to both supporters on social media and the press. Despite a period of huge uncertainty Bradley has moved to assure Ospreys supporters the redevelopment of St Helens will be going ahead. The Ospreys submitted a planning application a couple of weeks ago and intend to move into their new home by the end of the year. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free But given the WRU have called in the two-year notice on PRA 23, the future of both the Ospreys and Scarlets cannot be guaranteed. But when it comes to decision making at the Ospreys surrounding the new structure of Welsh rugby, majority shareholders Y11 Sport & Media, along with former chairman and significant funding director Rob Davies are the key players. Along with Davies, Y11 CEO James Davies-Yandle and its chief operating officer Nick Angio are thought to be important figures. Article continues below Scarlets Executive chairman James Davies-Yandle represents the Scarlets on the PRB and is a key figure in the current talks. The Scarlets board includes a number of key funding directors such as former chairmen Nigel Short, Ron Jones and Huw Evans along with Philip Davies. Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels is also an important figure given his extensive knowledge and experience of Welsh rugby's development pathways.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
WRU to meet with regions for crunch talks as bosses braced for significant development
WRU to meet with regions for crunch talks as bosses braced for significant development A pivotal meeting will take place this week with the game in Wales still shrouded in uncertainty The WRU and the regions will meet this week (Image: Getty Images for Barbarians ) The Welsh Rugby Union is set to meet with its four professional clubs this week - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - in a bid to map a way forward for the game in Wales. Professional Rugby Board meetings are commonplace but WalesOnline understands this Wednesday's meeting is of particular importance. The game in Wales has been thrown into disarray in recent months after the WRU's acquisition of Cardiff led to the Ospreys and Scarlets not signing the new Professional Rugby Agreement. As of next season both Cardiff and the Dragons will be on PRA 25 while the west Wales clubs will remain on the old one, with less funding. The WRU are seriously considering cutting the number of professional clubs in Wales to three or two, while a tiered funding model is also being talked about. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Those within the regional game expect the WRU to put forward a clear direction of travel this week, whether that be a reduction in professional clubs or a tiered funding model. The WRU have already announced they will no longer fund the four clubs equally, but cutting to three or two seems to be the likeliest outcome. Article continues below Wales' struggles at senior Test level — they have lost a record 17 Test matches in a row — has serious financial ramifications for the game in this country. The focus is on creating the optimum structure which can allow the men's national side to become a force to be reckoned with once again. To do this there is an acceptance that the professional game which underpins the national team must drag itself out of the mediocrity it has been confined to for much of the past 15 years. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free The WRU needs its professional clubs to be regularly competing in the latter stages of the Investec Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship with the aim of winning silverware. Whether this can be achieved with four clubs is under review, while implementing an aggressive, tiered funding model is arguably as challenging as cutting a team, given the ownership structure of Welsh rugby. Whatever route they choose to go down, players under contract will get looked after. Article continues below The WRU wants to announce its new structure for the professional game in September but WalesOnline understands the aim is to have something in place by July. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. It is too late to make any significant change for next season with the 2026/27 season the likeliest outcome.
Wales Online
05-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Ospreys chief reveals latest on WRU talks and makes admission over situation
Ospreys chief reveals latest on WRU talks and makes admission over situation Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley has spoken out Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley with the players (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley says he is confident in the club's future after the Welsh Rugby Union announced it would no longer fund four regions equally. Both Cardiff and the Dragons will be on the new Professional Rugby Agreement next season which will see increased and fixed funding for the next three years, along with significant debt relief. On the flip side both the Ospreys and the Scarlets refused to sign after raising concerns about the WRU's takeover of Cardiff. This means both clubs will remain on the old PRA with less funding, while they could also face significant clawbacks by the WRU. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. But the Ospreys have decided to proceed with their move to St Helen's and have officially submitted a planning application to redevelop the famous old ground. "I'm slightly limited about what I can say in that respect but we are still talking to the WRU about that situation," Bradley told BBC Radio Wales. Article continues below "If we weren't confident of a positive outcome that would obviously make things a lot more difficult. "The fact that we are still proceeding full steam ahead with the development and with the plans for St Helen's does indicate a level of confidence, yes. "In terms of the actual PRA contract there really isn't anything to discuss. "The issue arose around Cardiff going into administration and now being owned by the WRU. "That's the conversation." The WRU have taken the PRA 25 off the table for both the Ospreys and Scarlets and have activated the two-year notice clause on the current contract. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free As a result the WRU are seriously considering reducing to three if not two professional clubs, with United Rugby Championship CEO Martin Anayi confirming the league will back Welsh rugby whatever decision it comes to. But Bradley remains confident the Ospreys have a bright future. "I saw Martin Anayi's comments and that's what you would expect," Bradley added. "The WRU are a shareholder of URC so you would expect them to be talking to each other and to be supportive but I don't think you should necessarily read into that we will definitely be going to three regions. "As I say, the conversations are still ongoing. "I am confident of a positive outcomes. "We are working very closely with Scarlets and I completely understand the nervousness and the unsettling nature of where we all are at the moment. "We try to keep fans as updated as possible and as soon as we are able to do that then we will in this situation. "I hope that we are moving closer to a resolution. "We are not there at the moment but I'm hoping we will be reasonably shortly." The Ospreys confirmed the signing of Wales and British & Irish Lions backrower Ross Moriarty from Brive yesterday and have already signed Queensland Reds captain Ryan Smith. But Bradley did admit planning for the future is difficult given the uncertainty surrounding Welsh rugby but is confident the Ospreys will be playing at St Helen's by December of this year. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Article continues below "Admittedly that makes planning more difficult and it's a bit frustrating because we think this could have all been avoided," he said. "It is a bit frustrating but life isn't always a smooth road and there's sometimes road bumps in it and this is one of those road bumps. "We are managing our way through that."
Wales Online
29-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
WRU announce major new appointment at critical time for game in Wales
WRU announce major new appointment at critical time for game in Wales The WRU have announced a major new appointment New WRU CCO Leighton Davies (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has appointed Leighton Davies as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). This new role was previously described as the Chief Growth Officer and has been created to bring growth to the WRU and the whole Welsh rugby ecosystem. Davies is currently WRU Chief Operating Officer (COO) and, having led the effort across the business to implement robust business process and a solid financial foundation, will take up the new role later this summer - with a replacement COO to be recruited. He is also the WRU Chief Operating Officer having joined the WRU as Chief Financial Officer in March 2024, while he also sits on the Professional Rugby Board. 'I am really excited to be taking up this new role," said Davies. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "Welsh rugby possesses a huge amount of unrealised potential and this is what directly attracts me to this position. "The game is undoubtedly going through a tough time, not just in Wales, but globally, but I'm hugely excited about the potential of our new strategy and plans.' The professional game in Wales is at a critical stage in its history after the Ospreys and Scarlets refused to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement due to concerns the WRU were planning to turn Cardiff into a super club after buying the capital city side. Following Cardiff and the Dragons' decision to sign PRA 25 it led to the WRU activating the two-year notice clause on the old agreement, leaving the two west Wales clubs in limbo. The future direction of professional rugby in Wales will be decided over the coming months but a reduction to three or even two clubs is a very real possibility. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free As a result Davies will have a critical role to play in the future direction of the professional game. 'We are delighted that Leighton has accepted this new challenge in such a pivotal role for Welsh rugby," said WRU CEO Abi Tierney. Article continues below "It is a key position for us as we continue the process of professionalising and further commercialising ourselves to meet the challenges faced by all of Welsh rugby as part of our five-year One Wales plan.' Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
ITV News
19-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Fans brand WRU announcement on funding of regions 'concerning and disappointing'
Supporters have branded the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU's) announcement on how the four regional clubs will be funded as "very disappointing". On Sunday (18 May) the WRU revealed it would no longer be evenly funding all four clubs after Ospreys and Scarlets did not sign up to its new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25) - while Dragons and Cardiff did. Cardiff were taken over by the WRU in April after having served formal notification that they intended to enter administration. Last week Ospreys and Scarlets said they had asked the WRU for assurances that the takeover 'will not disproportionally benefit Cardiff and disadvantage the independent clubs'. Until the clubs received more "clarity" on this, it said both were "unable to sign the PRA25". This latest announcement from the WRU has left Ospreys and Scarlets fans worried about the future of their club. Gareth Storey, from the Scarlets Supporters Trust, said it was really disappointing to find out the news. He said: "We as supporters we met with the WRU several weeks ago and we were given assurances that the model would be equitable funding and that's obviously changed recently. "And again - more uncertainty in Welsh rugby, which is causing complete destabilisation at the end of the season and we want to be able to push on and compete for silverware in the coming years to come." Mr Storey feels the WRU is not working together with the regions. "I think the WRU needs to take the collaborative approach," he said. "By the media leaks and yesterday's statement, it feels like that's not the approach they're looking to take at the moment which is very disappointing. "They need to work with the clubs, Scarlets and Ospreys in particular, and they need to give the assurances that have been sought around funding and what the future looks like. "We've spoken recently, since Abi Tierney came into post 18 months ago, about that collaborative relationship and how things between the professional clubs and the WRU needed to improve. "And then we are still in the same situation it feels like in a week to week, month to month basis - where the clubs are almost at war with the WRU again because there isn't agreement." Following Sunday's announcement, WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said: 'We are continuing to talk to all four clubs about what the future will hold. 'We recognise this will be time of uncertainty and are committed to treating all the clubs, players, and supporters with respect and fairness throughout this process. 'We acknowledge the continued commitment of each club to Welsh rugby and will formulate a new plan with the best interests of the whole game in Wales at the forefront of our thinking. 'When I announced the headline strategy back in July 2024, I said one thing is for certain, given the challenges facing rugby in Wales and globally, there will be times when we need to adjust our course. We must seize this opportunity.' Professional Rugby Board chair Malcolm Wall said: 'The next phase of consultation, as always, will be conducted with the best interests of the whole of Welsh rugby at its heart.'
