Welsh players’ body gives bosses 6 February deadline

Wales’ players have given Welsh rugby bosses a deadline of 6 February to provide clarity regarding what will happen next.

The Professional Rugby Board (PRB) and the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association (WRPA), the organization that represents Wales’ players, “reach out to address the significant challenges that the professional game in Wales currently faces.”

The meeting was held after it became clear that Y11 Sport &amp, Media, Ospreys’ owners, were the WRU’s preferred bidder to buy Cardiff, which went into administration in April 2025.

This comes after the WRU announced in October 2025 that it would reduce the number of men playing on the professional side from four to three.

The WRPA has given Welsh rugby bosses a deadline to let them know what is going on with the preparation for the upcoming season.

The Wales Six Nations team will play England at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Tuesday.

Strike action has not been mentioned, but it was a possibility three years ago when Wales’ players threatened to withdraw from their Six Nations clash with England in February 2023 due to a contract dispute.

We discussed the significant difficulties facing the professional game in Wales, according to the WRPA statement.

The WRPA sought specific and unbiased answers to a number of pressing questions, including the proposed professional structure, the Cardiff Rugby transaction, licensing arrangements, and the number of Welsh teams expected to take part in the upcoming United Rugby Championship (URC) season.

The WRPA stated that the continued uncertainty is putting an unnecessary strain on players, staff, and their families, despite some assurances that were provided.

Players’ welfare is directly affected by ongoing uncertainty surrounding contracts, hiring, and future planning, and timely, transparent, and direct communication is necessary.

The WRPA also raised grave questions about recent media leaks, which have further eroded confidence in a challenging time. Before making public announcements, we reiterated that players must be fully informed.

No later than 6 February 2019, “We have made it clear that meaningful clarity regarding the arrangements for the following season must be provided.”

This deadline must be met in order to stabilize the scene, prevent further disruption, and allow players and clubs to make informed decisions.

By this point, players would undoubtedly have to take into account their positions and next steps if they had no certainty.