WRU has ‘immense disconnect’ with fans, say MPs

After being questioned in parliament about its plans to cut a professional team, the Welsh Rugby Union has been warned that it is losing touch with its supporters.

Concerning the controversial plans to reduce the number of regional sides to three, chair Richard Collier-Keywood and chief executive Abi Tierney were both deposed.

After hearing testimony from supporters of the four current teams, the Welsh Affairs Select Committee delivered a stark message to them.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) runs the risk of throwing the baby out with the bath water and alienating supporters by choosing to lose a professional team, according to a statement from the cross-party organization.

Collier-Keywood used the session to confirm a significant financial restructuring, and the committee acknowledged the financial difficulties that the WRU faced.

The WRU filed an appeal for a change in terms after receiving an 18 million Covid support loan from the Welsh government in 2022.

However, a new £55m package, which includes HSBC and Goldman Sachs, will pay off a separate commercial loan and a Welsh government loan.

If those two organizations had any questions about our governance or the future plans we’ve made for them, neither of them would have made an investment, Collier-Keywood said, adding that the WRU now has a stronger “economic rock” to build on.

Collier-Keywood acknowledged that he needed to share a five-year plan to secure investment, but that cutting a professional team was not a prerequisite in light of additional inquiries.

However, both he and Tierney reiterated that the professional sides needed to be reduced in order for their plan to invest in grassroots, pathways, and infrastructure.

Swansea council, led by Stewart, has stated to look into legal action, with the latter revealing to BBC Wales that he is scheduled to meet with WRU officials.

He said, “We’ve pressed for more conversations with them, but none have come.”

We’re interested to hear what the WRU and the Ospreys’ chief executive will say about our ‘interesting’ ‘trial of the council’s threat of legal action’.

It doesn’t take a legal genius to realize that the WRU’s procedure hasn’t been conducted as successfully as it could.

Stewart claims that the Y11 proposals didn’t put the St. Helen’s regeneration in danger.

Stewart said, “We’ve been clear, the cabinet made a decision, and it’s actually more than £5 million that we’ve set aside to help redevelop the ground.”

The Ospreys must be one of the regions chosen to be permanent under the new WRU arrangements, according to the statement.

When questioned if they believed they could keep fans and players, Collier-Keywood responded, “Yes, we do, and we do, and we both strongly support Welsh rugby union, so we feel that as well,” but sadly the rugby system was broken.

“The paths were blocked, but we made a plan for improvement, including a £28 million investment plan over five years to essentially fix the issue.

We’re just getting started with that.

Later in the session, members of the current regions of Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets also shared their opinions, with criticism of the union’s plans and approach also being made.