WRU Chair Warns Welsh Parliament on Governance Changes
The chair of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has cautioned the Welsh Parliament that proposals to remove him and alter the governance structure of Welsh rugby would represent a "step backwards" for the sport.
An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the WRU was convened by member clubs on Sunday amid ongoing controversy surrounding plans to reduce the number of professional rugby teams in Wales from four to three.
Richard Collier-Keywood, the WRU chair, also acknowledged that the union has faced difficulties in securing the support of the professional clubs for the proposed changes.
He emphasized that there is no "plan B" for professional rugby should he lose the anticipated vote of confidence in his leadership, asserting that transitioning to three teams is essential to ensure the sustainability of rugby in Wales.
WRU Leadership Appears Before Senedd Committee
Collier-Keywood, alongside senior independent director Alison Thorne and director of the community game Geraint John, appeared before the Senedd's sport and culture committee on Thursday to discuss the proposals.
During the session, Collier-Keywood robustly defended the union's plans and indicated that no final decision had been made regarding which team would represent west Wales under the new structure.
"I was brought in as an independent chair on a mandate of change,"
he told the committee.
"Change is never easy, we recognise, and we are in the midst of significant change.
My mandate was change and I think we are in the course of delivering that change.
We recognise that is very painful but we are committed to delivering that change. You didn't ask me to retain the status quo."
Regarding the union's plans, he added:
"Am I inclined to throw that away two months into its implementation?
Honestly, probably not, because I think you asked me to bring this change so that Welsh rugby would have a strong, proud sustainable future, and we've just started that process."
Concerns Over EGM and Governance Reversal
When questioned by committee chair Delyth Jewell about the message he would convey to fans if the EGM proposals were approved, Collier-Keywood stated that it would feel like a "step backwards."
"We have professionalised governance, and it would be a totally backward step if you effectively reverse the changes that took place in March 2023,"
he said, referring to the WRU's board restructuring earlier that year.
Collier-Keywood also addressed speculation about which team might be cut, particularly concerns from Ospreys supporters who fear their side may be eliminated. This concern is heightened by ongoing talks between Ospreys owners Y11 and the WRU regarding the purchase of rival club Cardiff.
"The assumption was that Ospreys was going to be the club that was killed off.
That is not the case in terms of what will necessarily happen as a result of Y11 owning two clubs.
There is a totally separate process the WRU are going through of how we decide to award the licences.
Going forward I expect that we will carry out a fair and transparent process to determine who gets that licence. We have not done that yet.
We will carry out that process because there may be some conditions we will put into that licence about where rugby needs to be played."
Ospreys supporters, whose team is based in Swansea but playing this season in Bridgend, have actively protested against the proposed changes.
Criticism and Admission of Challenges
Committee member Alun Davies criticized Collier-Keywood, accusing him of living in a "parallel universe" if he believed Scarlets supporters would travel across the river Loughor to watch their rugby or that residents of Bridgend or Swansea would attend Scarlets matches in Swansea.
Later in the session, Collier-Keywood conceded that it was a "fair reflection" that the WRU had "really struggled to bring the professional clubs with us on this journey."
Thorne acknowledged the anger among some stakeholders but noted to the committee:
"There's also a very strong number of clubs who don't feel like that. And so when we're in the districts, we hear both sides of those elements."
WRU's Position on Professional Rugby Sustainability
The WRU maintains that reducing the number of professional teams is the only viable way to keep Welsh professional rugby competitive and to fund other critical areas such as the national academy and coach development programs.
Collier-Keywood explained that the current financial and player resources are insufficient because they are spread too thinly across four teams.
A date for the EGM has not yet been confirmed.
Wales is scheduled to play its next Six Nations match in Dublin against Ireland on Friday, one week from today.
