In a damning letter, a cross-party Senedd committee told WRU bosses they have “lost the argument” over the future of the professional game and warned them not to find themselves in a position of “winning the vote but losing the soul of Welsh rugby.”
The broadside from the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee comes after a fiery evidence session last week where WRU Chair Richard Collier-Keywood was grilled by politicians.
The WRU has been pushing forward with plans to reduce the number of professional teams in Wales from four to three, a move that has sparked a furious backlash from fans, regions, and politicians alike.
The committee’s letter, signed by Chair Delyth Jewell MS, states that Welsh rugby is in a “perilous state” and that the WRU’s proposals have caused “considerable concern to people across our nation.”
“It is clear the union does not have the consensus needed to move forward with the proposal to reduce the number of regional sides from four to three,” the letter reads. “The WRU must recognise that it has lost the argument over the future of the professional game.”
The committee was particularly scathing about the WRU’s admission that it has no ‘Plan B’ if its current proposals do not progress as planned.
“We were alarmed to hear you tell us that you have no Plan B,” the letter continues. “Were this the case, it could represent a significant dereliction of duty. We urge you to find an alternative approach that continues to stabilise the finances of the Union and maintains confidence, whilst rebuilding trust with clubs and supporters.”
The intervention from the Senedd is the latest blow to the WRU’s leadership, which has faced a furious political backlash and a vote of no-confidence over its handling of the game’s future.
The Ospreys and Scarlets have been particularly vocal in their opposition to the plans, issuing a joint statement condemning the uncertainty that has left the regions in limbo.
The letter concludes with a stark warning to the WRU leadership.
“The people of Wales feel a deep sense of ownership, pride and emotional connection to the game. That connection must be respected and nurtured. The union must not find itself in the position of winning the vote but losing the soul of Welsh rugby.”
