SCARLETS: ‘Shocked’ Carmarthenshire Council demands answers from WRU over leaked Tierney recording

Carmarthenshire County Council has demanded “urgent and clear assurances” from the Welsh Rugby Union, saying it is “shocked” by the implications of a leaked recording of chief executive Abi Tierney.

Council leader Cllr Linda Evans called on the union to clarify its position after the recording emerged on Wednesday, in which Tierney said she favoured a merger of the Scarlets and Ospreys.

It followed the union’s announcement leaving the two west Wales clubs to fight for a single licence from 2028, with Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC offered the capital and east places.

Evans said: “We are aware of the reported recording involving the Union’s Chief Executive and are shocked by the implications it raises for the credibility of the regional rugby review.”

The council leader said the WRU had “repeatedly stated” that the future structure of professional rugby in Wales would be considered through a transparent and impartial process.

“Any suggestion that a preferred outcome has already been identified would be extremely troubling and would risk undermining confidence among supporters, clubs, communities and stakeholders across Wales,” she said.

The council said its concern was significant given the importance of the Scarlets to Llanelli, Carmarthenshire and the wider region, and the repeated assurances that any decision would be reached through a fair, open and evidence-based process.

“The Scarlets are a cornerstone of sporting, cultural and economic life in Carmarthenshire,” the council said. “Their presence supports jobs, local businesses, community identity and the wider reputation of Llanelli and West Wales.”

“Decisions about their future must not be made behind closed doors or on the basis of predetermined assumptions.”

The authority is demanding assurances that no decision has been made on the allocation of the licences, that all options remain genuinely open, and that the evidence underpinning the review is shared in full with affected regions.

“The future of Welsh rugby is too important for anything less than a process that is robust, transparent, fair and based on clear evidence,” the council said.

Llanelli’s MP joined the criticism. Dame Nia Griffith, Labour MP for Llanelli, said Wednesday’s announcement had “once again thrown more chaos and uncertainty onto our national game”, underlining “genuine, passionately held concerns” among those who deliver and support it locally.

Griffith said the process to decide the future “needs to be open, fair and transparent”, rewarding “on pitch success, long term vision” and building on the nation’s sporting and cultural heritage, “especially here in West Wales where we have both a proud history and strong foundations”.

The MP said the Scarlets had already shown they could deliver, pointing to “increasing match attendances, a burgeoning production line of playing and coaching talent across all age groups and the best regional rugby stadium in Wales”.

“I will continue to work closely with them to stand up for regional rugby here in Llanelli and across the whole of West Wales,” she said. “Supporters, our local communities and those who have given their time, energy and commitment to our national game deserve nothing less.”

The intervention makes Carmarthenshire the second local authority to challenge the union in two days, after Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart called on Tierney to resign.

Swansea West MP Torsten Bell has also likened the union to “a crook returning to the scene of their crime”.

The council said it would continue to monitor developments and work with partners to ensure the voice of Carmarthenshire, Llanelli and Scarlets supporters “is heard clearly”.

The WRU has not responded to the criticism. Announcing its plans, Professional Rugby Board chair Marianne Økland said the union was committed to progressing “in a collaborative way” and providing “stability for all at the earliest opportunity”.