Welsh clubs urged to call EGM for no confidence vote

The Welsh Rugby Union’s annual general meeting will be called off, and clubs are asked to vote in favor of chair Richard Collier-Keywood.

Central Glamorgan Rugby Union, a district in Wales, is the recipient of the call. It has prepared a letter to clubs requesting the 10% required to impose an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

Around 30 of Wales’ nearly 300 clubs will need to back the plans.

The clubs had a majority in favor of a change in governance at the previous EGM, which included changes to the board and the appointment of the first independent chair, in 2023.

In July of this year, Collier-Keywood was hired, and a brand-new board was put in place.

Collier-Keywood and Professional Rugby Board (PRB) chair Malcolm Wall, who is also a board member, are in need of a vote of no confidence, according to Central Glamorgan Rugby Union. One of three motions has been suggested.

The WRU has used this new leadership structure for more than two years, according to the letter.

We’re deeply concerned that the current leadership haven’t been able to come up with and implement a plan that will support the professional, SRC [Super Rygbi Cymru], female and community game.

Instead, we see the board’s inability to define and implement a clear strategy for rugby in Wales, which causes chaos, confusion, and uncertainty, and spends extortionate amounts of money on external consultants.

In October, the WRU developed a plan to significantly alter the Welsh game, including eliminating one of the four professional sides.

More discussions are anticipated in the upcoming weeks, but the governing body has so far failed.

At the annual general meeting (AGM) in November, the clubs had the opportunity to ask the WRU hierarchy, but only one question about the professional game was raised during the question-and-answer session.

The WRU now feels obliged to respond to inquiries about its leadership, according to Central Glamorgan Rugby Union.

It asks if “people who are paid to do the job must use consultants to guide them, and if there are suitable candidates for those positions,” adding that there are experienced people in Wales who are willing to give their time and understand the rugby landscape.

The letter continues, “We strongly believe that clubs and shareholders must hold the WRU accountable, and the only way to do that is through an extraordinary general meeting.”

We need at least 10% of voting members to back the call for an EGM to be held.

One of the nine districts that contribute to the WRU is the Neath, Port Talbot, Maesteg, and Bridgend regions, where Central Glamorgan Rugby Union is represented by clubs.

A document that clubs can send straight to the WRU is being proposed in three motions.

The first is a vote of no confidence in Wall and Collier-Keywood, which would need a majority of more than 50% to pass.

The WRU council should hold elections for the four elected member boards within 14 days after the EGM, which also requires more than 50% of the vote.

A 75% majority will be required to change the way the WRU district and council members are elected, as proposed in the third motion.

Central Glamorgan Rugby Union also has the following suggestions: