Chief Executive Abi Tierney has insisted that pushing ahead with a three-team model is the only way to save the professional game in Wales from financial ruin.
In a defiant interview, the WRU chief warned that failing to reform the current structure would risk “destroying ourselves” and that the union cannot afford to fund four professional sides.
The under-fire CEO also revealed she has felt “unsafe” in her role following a wave of online abuse, which included AI-generated images of her in Nazi clothing.
“It is the best plan for Welsh rugby,” Ms Tierney insisted, despite Swansea Council launching legal action and Senedd members accusing the union of a ‘dereliction of duty’ over the proposals.
The WRU’s controversial plans to cut a Welsh region have sparked fury across the country, particularly in the West where the future of the Ospreys remains uncertain.
Ms Tierney argued that delaying the cuts would only lead to the same crisis returning in two or three years’ time.
She maintained that the union’s priority is to create a sustainable future for the remaining teams, even if it means making painful decisions now.
The CEO’s comments come as grassroots clubs have formally called for an Emergency General Meeting to vote on removing WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood.
Despite the intense pressure, Ms Tierney said she is determined to see the radical restructuring through to completion.
She also addressed the personal toll of the job, describing the “onslaught” of hate speech she has faced since taking the role.
The WRU boss said the level of abuse has been a “wake-up call” for the sport and called for more respect in the debate over the game’s future.
Critics have accused the union of secrecy and a toxic culture, with some business leaders warning that Welsh rugby is at a “point of no return”.
However, the union insists that its strategy is the only viable path forward to ensure the long-term survival of the professional game.
