Latest news with #AbiTierney
South Wales Argus
29-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
WRU: Leighton Davies appointed new chief commercial officer
The position was previously known as the chief growth officer and aims to bring growth to the governing body and the game in Wales. Currently WRU's chief operating officer, Davies has been instrumental in establishing robust business processes and a solid financial foundation. He will assume his new role later this summer, with a replacement for his current position yet to be recruited. Abi Tierney, WRU chief executive, said: "We are delighted that Leighton has accepted this new challenge in such a pivotal role for Welsh rugby. "It is a key position for us as we continue the process of professionalising and further commercialising ourselves to meet the challenges faced by all of Welsh rugby as part of our five-year One Wales plan." Davies, a member of the Professional Rugby Board, expressed his enthusiasm for his new role. "I am really excited to be taking up this new role," he said. "Welsh rugby possesses a huge amount of unrealised potential and this is what directly attracts me to this position. "The game is undoubtedly going through a tough time, not just in Wales, but globally, but I'm hugely excited about the potential of our new strategy and plans."
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Wales still without head coach as search for Warren Gatland successor rumbles on
Wales will tour Japan without a full-time head coach as Matt Sherratt reprises his interim role and bids to break a run of 17 consecutive Test losses. Sherratt has previously stressed that it would take 'something significant' for him to leave his post as head coach of Cardiff, but with Abi Tierney, the chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, searching for a permanent replacement for Warren Gatland, he was asked to return. 'We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again with the Wales senior men's side on an interim basis for the Japan tour,' said Tierney. 'The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed. It was a tough campaign, but we know we are in safe hands while we complete the final stages of our recruitment process for a new permanent head coach.' Sherratt will be assisted by the presence of Danny Wilson and Adam Jones, who have been seconded from Harlequins to complete a makeshift backroom team. 'We're proud to see Danny and Adam gain recognition at the international level, and the opportunity to develop within a national coaching team this summer,' said Laurie Dalrymple, the Harlequins chief executive. 'It's a reflection of the respect they both have as coaches within the game, and the dedication to their craft as they undertake the roles in what will be their off-season. While they are short-term secondments, it's a fantastic chance for them to grow professionally and bring back new experiences that will ultimately benefit our club. 'Danny and his coaching team have already carefully crafted our pre-season programme, and we're fully aligned with the Welsh Rugby Union on the path ahead. We look forward to welcoming them back at the start of pre-season, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running as we prepare for the new campaign.' Six uncapped players feature in Wales' 33-man squad, which will be without a pair of British and Irish Lions in Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams. Liam Belcher of Cardiff, Dragons prop Chris Coleman, Macs Page of Scarlets and the Ospreys trio of Garyn Phillips, Keelan Giles and Reuben Morgan-Williams comprise the contingent of new faces. Besides the two Lions, other notable absentees include Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Henry Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Gareth Anscombe, Nick Tompkins, James Botham and Evan Lloyd. Beard and Rowlands are rested, with Jenkins and Thomas addressing injuries. The others have been overlooked. Elsewhere, there are recalls for Kieran Hardy, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, James Ratti, Johnny Williams and Cameron Winnett. 'I'm excited to get the players together in camp to begin preparations for our summer campaign,' said Sherratt, who will take on Eddie Jones' team in Kitakyushu on July 5 and in Kobe a week later. 'There's a good blend of experience and young talent selected and this group has a lot of potential. Going to Japan this July is a challenge the coaches and I are relishing. We are expecting a fierce contest from Japan in these Test matches. 'Over the next few weeks in camp, it's about working hard, getting all our prep right on and off the pitch and gelling together as a group.' While they have won 13 of their past 14 meetings with Japan, Wales signed off the Six Nations with a 68-14 loss to England at the Principality Stadium and are languishing in 12th on the World Rugby rankings ladder; just one place above their hosts for this summer and one place below Georgia. Forwards: Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Garyn Phillips, Keiron Assiratti, Chris Coleman, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (capt), Liam Belcher, Elliot Dee, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Freddie Thomas, James Ratti, Taine Plumtree, Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Josh Macleod.
Wales Online
19-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
WRU and regions to face off in tense meeting amid recriminations
WRU and regions to face off in tense meeting amid recriminations The meeting takes place after a dramatic few days in Welsh rugby WRU CEO Abi Tierney (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) The Welsh Rugby Union will meet with the four professional clubs this week for the first time since announcing it will move away from a model of four evenly funded sides. A Professional Rugby Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, meaning representatives of Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets will meet with WRU bosses after a seismic few days in the Welsh game. WRU bosses had informed the four clubs of their intentions last Thursday, ahead of a dramatic weekend where the severe change in stance - going from publicly pushing four equally funded sides to suddenly not - became apparent. On Saturday night, WalesOnline revealed that the expected outcome was that there would be a reduction to three teams. The WRU has not confirmed whether that will be the case, maintaining a decisive decision is yet to be made. However, in a statement released on Sunday, it confirmed the two-year notice period had been issue to terminate the current Professional Rugby Agreement after the Ospreys and Scarlets failed to sign the new deal. The Union also added it had not taken the decision lightly and recognised the game was now entering a period of huge uncertainty. Article continues below That led to a strong joint-statement from the west Wales sides later on the same day, where they accused the WRU of performing a "destabilising and debilitating" U-turn from their previous stance. The Ospreys and Scarlets have been reluctant to sign following the WRU's takeover of Cardiff. The Arms Park club went into administration earlier in the season, with the WRU taking them over. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. With all four clubs having been close to agreeing to the new deal, the situation with Cardiff has complicated matters. The fear for the Ospreys and Scarlets is that, under the new PRA, the Arms Park club will be favoured financially - with the clubs wanting some clear show of equality in writing added to the agreement. However, after missing the latest deadline, the WRU's patience has run out. Article continues below As far as the WRU is concerned, the offer to sign the new PRA is now off the table. Were the Ospreys and Scarlets to suddenly declare their intentions to sign the PRA, it would now require WRU CEO Abi Tierney to put that before the WRU Board. As such, it'll be interesting to see how Wednesday's meeting unfolds as the parties speak for the first time since the weekend's dramatic developments.
ITV News
19-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Fans brand WRU announcement on funding of regions 'concerning and disappointing'
Supporters have branded the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU's) announcement on how the four regional clubs will be funded as "very disappointing". On Sunday (18 May) the WRU revealed it would no longer be evenly funding all four clubs after Ospreys and Scarlets did not sign up to its new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25) - while Dragons and Cardiff did. Cardiff were taken over by the WRU in April after having served formal notification that they intended to enter administration. Last week Ospreys and Scarlets said they had asked the WRU for assurances that the takeover 'will not disproportionally benefit Cardiff and disadvantage the independent clubs'. Until the clubs received more "clarity" on this, it said both were "unable to sign the PRA25". This latest announcement from the WRU has left Ospreys and Scarlets fans worried about the future of their club. Gareth Storey, from the Scarlets Supporters Trust, said it was really disappointing to find out the news. He said: "We as supporters we met with the WRU several weeks ago and we were given assurances that the model would be equitable funding and that's obviously changed recently. "And again - more uncertainty in Welsh rugby, which is causing complete destabilisation at the end of the season and we want to be able to push on and compete for silverware in the coming years to come." Mr Storey feels the WRU is not working together with the regions. "I think the WRU needs to take the collaborative approach," he said. "By the media leaks and yesterday's statement, it feels like that's not the approach they're looking to take at the moment which is very disappointing. "They need to work with the clubs, Scarlets and Ospreys in particular, and they need to give the assurances that have been sought around funding and what the future looks like. "We've spoken recently, since Abi Tierney came into post 18 months ago, about that collaborative relationship and how things between the professional clubs and the WRU needed to improve. "And then we are still in the same situation it feels like in a week to week, month to month basis - where the clubs are almost at war with the WRU again because there isn't agreement." Following Sunday's announcement, WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said: 'We are continuing to talk to all four clubs about what the future will hold. 'We recognise this will be time of uncertainty and are committed to treating all the clubs, players, and supporters with respect and fairness throughout this process. 'We acknowledge the continued commitment of each club to Welsh rugby and will formulate a new plan with the best interests of the whole game in Wales at the forefront of our thinking. 'When I announced the headline strategy back in July 2024, I said one thing is for certain, given the challenges facing rugby in Wales and globally, there will be times when we need to adjust our course. We must seize this opportunity.' Professional Rugby Board chair Malcolm Wall said: 'The next phase of consultation, as always, will be conducted with the best interests of the whole of Welsh rugby at its heart.'
Wales Online
18-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Ospreys and Scarlets publicly accuse WRU of destabilising Welsh rugby after shock U-turn
Ospreys and Scarlets publicly accuse WRU of destabilising Welsh rugby after shock U-turn The Ospreys and Scarlets have responded to the Welsh Rugby Union's statement The Scarlets and Ospreys have issued a statement (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The Ospreys and Scarlets say they are "concerned and disappointed" over the Welsh Rugby Union's announcement there will no longer be four equally-funded professional clubs in Wales, with the two West Wales sides slamming the Union's U-turn for creating more "destabilising and debilitating uncertainty" in the Welsh game. WalesOnline revealed on Saturday night that the WRU has informed the four clubs that the number of teams in Wales needs to reduce to three following the failure of all four teams to agree to its proposed new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA). You can read the story here. Then, on Sunday morning, the WRU confirmed in a statement, which you can read here, that they had triggered the two-year notice period on the current set-up and said the future landscape will not see four evenly funded teams. That marked a complete change from the Union's previous public stance, with CEO Abi Tierney and chair Richard Collier-Keywood having been insistent since taking up their roles that four was the number of teams they wanted to move forward with on an equal funding model. The seismic development comes after the Ospreys and Scarlets refused to sign the new agreement following the Union's takeover of Cardiff - with the Dragons having joined the capital club in signing the new PRA. The reason the Ospreys and Scarlets have chosen not to do so is over fears that the WRU's takeover of Cardiff would lead to inequality under the new agreement, with those concerns having not been suitably allayed. Article continues below After both clubs' supporters groups insisted they would not be cowed on Sunday, the two rivals have now joined forces with their own robust statement - once again reiterating their calls for more clarity. "The Ospreys and Scarlets are concerned and disappointed to read the WRU's statement today (18 May 2025) outlining a sudden change in its strategy of four equally-funded professional clubs in Wales. "This U-turn has now created more destabilising and debilitating uncertainty in our game, with pertinent questions being asked by stakeholders across our clubs and within our communities regarding the future framework and landscape for professional rugby in Wales. "The very foundations that both the 'One Wales' strategy and new PRA (2025) are based upon have now changed dramatically and without full consultation. This goes back on recent commitments made to the clubs and to Welsh rugby fans. "The future framework and landscape for professional rugby in Wales matters to us all. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "We would urge the WRU to provide more clarity and detail on the decision, the 'opportunity' that it wishes to seize and to inform us what the process will be for a new system and model for Welsh Rugby and how they intend to deliver it. "We need a unifying position and coherent strategy that allows us to continue to compete and grow as professional clubs in Wales. "As professional clubs, we share the same passion, focus and hope for a better and more sustainable future for our game in Wales, which has been impacted significantly in recent years. "We thank all those connected with our two clubs including players and staff, supporters, partners, sponsors and our wider rugby communities for their continued support and patience while we seek to find a sustainable and equitable solution for the future. "We are key contributors to the success of Welsh rugby and we remain committed to working constructively and collaboratively with the WRU to find solutions that support the game across our country and ensure a level playing field for all." Wales' governing body has activated the two-year notice on the old PRA because it is desperate to refinance its debt. NatWest view the old agreement as too much of a risk to refinance the debt as any increase in the WRU's profit has to go to the four professional clubs. Article continues below In their statement on Sunday, the WRU said it had not taken the decision lightly and recognised the game is now entering a period of huge uncertainty.
