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Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
I gave my house a designer makeover using Shein for just £270 – but there's a catch they don't tell you about
Janine, whose method is to spend more on big-ticket items, reveals her star buy and what she really thinks of the quality of Shein's homeware HOUSE THIS! I gave my house a designer makeover using Shein for just £270 – but there's a catch they don't tell you about GIVING your home a designer makeover – but with a bargain price tag – sounds like an impossible task. But while Janine Santos was browsing the Chinese retail website, Shein – known for selling clothes super cheaply – she suddenly spotted a 'Home & Kitchen' category. Advertisement 8 Janine Santos transformed her Cardiff home for just £269 using Shein's homeware Credit: Huw Evans 8 She bought these two single curtains for just £21.75 each Credit: Huw Evans 8 She ordered these £3 and £7 prints to decorate the walls as well as dried pampas grass for £4.19 Credit: Huw Evans There, on her screen, appeared to be the solution to her problem. Attractive-looking curtains, cushions, tapestries, bedding, storage baskets and much more were being offered at rock bottom prices. It seemed too good to be true. Advertisement One thing led to another and soon Janine had bought around 50 items to give her Cardiff home a stylish new 'boho' look that has transformed it from top to bottom. The bill for her haul came in at just £269. 'I wasn't sure about it, as it was so cheap,' says Janine, a 47-year-old cruise fleet manager. 'But the quality looked good. 'Even if I'd gone somewhere else which is considered good value, like Ikea, I would have spent over £1000, easy.' Before she discovered Shein homeware, Janine had a weakness for splurging on high end, expensive items. Advertisement 'I used to use brands like Andrew Martin, Osborne & Little and Farrow & Ball,' says Janine, who is mum to Keanau, 26, and married to Damon, 53, a tiler. 'I also used to love Flamant, a high-end Belgian brand. They were my go-to for timeless pieces.' But when she decided to give her three-bedroom semi a refresh last December, Janine was looking to economise. 'I spend six months away at sea each year with work and when I come home, all I want is a space to relax,' she says. You'd never know I live in a council house thanks to how good it looks - I shopped in IKEA & an Amazon tip saved me cash 'I'd been meaning to do this for a while and make it feel more homely. But I wanted to tighten my belt. I prefer to spend my money on experiences these days, like holidays, and thought: 'How can I do this affordably?'' Janine was shopping for clothing on Shein last December when she noticed they also sell homeware. Advertisement The China-based retailer's popularity is currently soaring in the UK, with sales jumping by nearly 40 per cent to £1.5bn last year. It is expected to become Britain's sixth largest clothing retailer by 2027. For Janine, the prices seemed too good to ignore, so she ordered two photographic prints and some pampas grass to test the waters. 'I used to buy my prints from King & McGaw, which specialises in fine art prints,' says Janine. 'I paid £300 each for two prints years ago. 'But these 50cm x 70cm Shein prints were £3 and £7. I didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. They were delivered eight days later, in a cardboard box, and were printed on high quality cardboard. They also came rolled up, so there were no creases. Advertisement 'They didn't come with frames, so I got some from Amazon, at £50 for three.' A couple of weeks later, Janine placed a second, bigger order, then a third. She bought, among other items, a rug to go in front of the fire (£5.24), a king size duvet cover set with pillows (£26.48), two single curtains (£21.75 each), a beige woven wall tapestry (£2.29), dried pampas grass (£4.19), two artificial ivy plants (£1.85 each), three white woven storage baskets (£6.12 each), a wall sticker (£1.30) and a cute ornament of someone reading (£1.10). 8 Janine's house looks very boho chic thanks to this beige woven wall tapestry, £2.29, from Shein Credit: Jam Press 8 She also paid £25 for a king size polycotton white duvet cover and two matching pillowcases Credit: Jam Press Advertisement 'Cushion crazy' 'When I told my husband how much everything cost, he said: 'There's no way, you're lying to me.' 'And one friend who came round couldn't believe it when I told her so much of my stuff was from Shein – she literally screamed. I think she was expecting me to say some fancy, overpriced designer brand. 'She went straight to the website and started filling her basket. People have this idea that Shein is only for clothes – but the home stuff is genuinely stylish and surprisingly good quality. Nothing I ordered felt below par.' When I told my husband how much everything cost, he said: 'There's no way, you're lying to me' Janine's star buy was a pair of cream curtains for the bedroom. Curtains are sold individually on Shein and Janine bought two for £21.75 each. 'In the past I've paid over a thousand pounds for a pair of curtains,' she says. 'They were handmade, very thick, like quilts. I don't feel I need that sort of thing any more.'They're my favourite - they're lined and they've got this lace overlay – they're really drapey and beautiful. I bought the pole off Shein as well for £11.44.' Advertisement Janine is also impressed with the bedding she bought from the retailer. She paid £25 for a king size polycotton white duvet cover and two matching pillowcases. And the cushions were so cheap – just £3 each – that Janine went 'cushion crazy'. 'I've got them all over the house,' she says. 'One is a tan leather look, the others are like the tapestry on the wall, with tassels on them. Damon loves the new look. The only thing he has said is: 'Please, no more cushions'.' 'Boho with a designer twist' Another big hit was the pampas grass. Advertisement 'I ordered the large size,' says Janine. I thought: 'It's going to be limp, but I can try it.' Luckily, it's really full.' Janine's method is to spend more money on big-ticket items – she recently bought a bed and chest of drawers from Freemans for about £1000 and a sofa from DFS for around £2,000 – and save on the accessories that finish off a room. She describes her style as 'boho with a designer twist', mixing budget buys with statement pieces. 'Spending so little is great, because if I want to do a different theme, I can buy a load more stuff from Shein,' she says. 'I will give these to charity, then I can buy new things. I'm just layering on to make a new theme. The foundations stay, they are good quality.' Shipping is free, too, if you spend more than £35. And there are other incentives, says Janine. Advertisement 'They give you vouchers. They say: add another item to your basket to receive a bigger discount. 'Then when I look at it, it's as if I've got those curtains free.' But Shein is not popular with everyone. The brand has been criticised for its sustainability practices, with concerns raised about textile waste and excessive carbon emissions. I'm not here trying to impress anyone, I'm creating a space that feels like me Last August, Shein admitted it had found two cases of child labour in its supply chain and factories failing to pay the minimum wage. Janine says: 'I know there are conversations around sustainability with brands like Shein and it's something I do think about. Advertisement 'When I was decorating, I made sure to choose pieces I actually love and knew I'd keep – not something trendy for a quick fix. I've never been sent the wrong product, or had to return anything, either. 'I think sustainability is also about how you use things and how long you keep them, not just where they come from.' 'I've mixed and matched, like I would with clothes. I might buy a designer outfit, but wear a T-shirt from Primark. 'I'll change a few things in winter, like adding a fluffy rug and throws. I like that I can switch things up without spending a fortune.' Janine has converted the garage in her house, adding an upstairs level and separate entrance to create an Airbnb. Advertisement She also has an Airbnb property in Egypt. Both are decorated with Shein homeware. 'I love my 'Shein house',' she says. 'It feels warm, modern and personal – and that's what matters, not that I've had any negative comments – quite the reverse. 'I'm not here trying to impress anyone, I'm creating a space that feels like me. It's like I've curated a little Pinterest board in real life.' 8 She choses to spend more money on big-ticket item such as this sofa from DFS for £2,000, and instead save on the accessories that finish off a room Credit: Huw Evans Advertisement 8 I love my 'Shein house', says Janine Credit: Huw Evans
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
I gave my house a designer makeover using Shein for just £270 – but there's a catch they don't tell you about
GIVING your home a designer makeover – but with a bargain price tag – sounds like an impossible task. But while Janine Santos was browsing the Chinese retail website, Shein – known for selling clothes super cheaply – she suddenly spotted a 'Home & Kitchen' category. 8 Janine Santos transformed her Cardiff home for just £269 using Shein's homeware Credit: Huw Evans 8 She bought these two single curtains for just £21.75 each Credit: Huw Evans 8 She ordered these £3 and £7 prints to decorate the walls as well as dried pampas grass for £4.19 Credit: Huw Evans There, on her screen, appeared to be the solution to her problem. Attractive-looking curtains, cushions, tapestries, bedding, storage baskets and much more were being offered at rock bottom prices. It seemed too good to be true. One thing led to another and soon Janine had bought around 50 items to give her Cardiff home a stylish new 'boho' look that has transformed it from top to bottom. The bill for her haul came in at just £269. 'I wasn't sure about it, as it was so cheap,' says Janine, a 47-year-old cruise fleet manager. 'But the quality looked good. 'Even if I'd gone somewhere else which is considered good value, like Ikea, I would have spent over £1000, easy.' Before she discovered Shein homeware, Janine had a weakness for splurging on high end, expensive items. 'I used to use brands like Andrew Martin, Osborne & Little and Farrow & Ball,' says Janine, who is mum to Keanau, 26, and married to Damon, 53, a tiler. 'I also used to love Flamant, a high-end Belgian brand. They were my go-to for timeless pieces.' But when she decided to give her three-bedroom semi a refresh last December, Janine was looking to economise. 'I spend six months away at sea each year with work and when I come home, all I want is a space to relax,' she says. You'd never know I live in a council house thanks to how good it looks - I shopped in IKEA & an Amazon tip saved me cash 'I'd been meaning to do this for a while and make it feel more homely. But I wanted to tighten my belt. I prefer to spend my money on experiences these days, like holidays, and thought: 'How can I do this affordably?'' Janine was shopping for clothing on Shein last December when she noticed they also sell homeware. The China-based retailer's popularity is currently soaring in the UK, with sales jumping by nearly 40 per cent to £1.5bn last year. It is expected to become Britain's sixth largest clothing retailer by 2027. For Janine, the prices seemed too good to ignore, so she ordered two photographic prints and some pampas grass to test the waters. 'I used to buy my prints from King & McGaw, which specialises in fine art prints,' says Janine. 'I paid £300 each for two prints years ago. 'But these 50cm x 70cm Shein prints were £3 and £7. I didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. They were delivered eight days later, in a cardboard box, and were printed on high quality cardboard. They also came rolled up, so there were no creases. 'They didn't come with frames, so I got some from Amazon, at £50 for three.' A couple of weeks later, Janine placed a second, bigger order, then a third. She bought, among other items, a rug to go in front of the fire (£5.24), a king size duvet cover set with pillows (£26.48), two single curtains (£21.75 each), a beige woven wall tapestry (£2.29), dried pampas grass (£4.19), two artificial ivy plants (£1.85 each), three white woven storage baskets (£6.12 each), a wall sticker (£1.30) and a cute ornament of someone reading (£1.10). 8 Janine's house looks very boho chic thanks to this beige woven wall tapestry, £2.29, from Shein Credit: Jam Press 8 She also paid £25 for a king size polycotton white duvet cover and two matching pillowcases Credit: Jam Press 'Cushion crazy' 'When I told my husband how much everything cost, he said: 'There's no way, you're lying to me.' 'And one friend who came round couldn't believe it when I told her so much of my stuff was from Shein – she literally screamed. I think she was expecting me to say some fancy, overpriced designer brand. 'She went straight to the website and started filling her basket. People have this idea that Shein is only for clothes – but the home stuff is genuinely stylish and surprisingly good quality. Nothing I ordered felt below par.' When I told my husband how much everything cost, he said: 'There's no way, you're lying to me' Janine's star buy was a pair of cream curtains for the bedroom. Curtains are sold individually on Shein and Janine bought two for £21.75 each. 'In the past I've paid over a thousand pounds for a pair of curtains,' she says. 'They were handmade, very thick, like quilts. I don't feel I need that sort of thing any more.'They're my favourite - they're lined and they've got this lace overlay – they're really drapey and beautiful. I bought the pole off Shein as well for £11.44.' Janine is also impressed with the bedding she bought from the retailer. She paid £25 for a king size polycotton white duvet cover and two matching pillowcases. And the cushions were so cheap – just £3 each – that Janine went 'cushion crazy'. 'I've got them all over the house,' she says. 'One is a tan leather look, the others are like the tapestry on the wall, with tassels on them. Damon loves the new look . The only thing he has said is: 'Please, no more cushions'.' 'Boho with a designer twist' Another big hit was the pampas grass. 'I ordered the large size,' says Janine. I thought: 'It's going to be limp, but I can try it.' Luckily, it's really full.' Janine's method is to spend more money on big-ticket items – she recently bought a bed and chest of drawers from Freemans for about £1000 and a sofa from DFS for around £2,000 – and save on the accessories that finish off a room. She describes her style as 'boho with a designer twist', mixing budget buys with statement pieces. 'Spending so little is great, because if I want to do a different theme, I can buy a load more stuff from Shein,' she says. 'I will give these to charity, then I can buy new things. I'm just layering on to make a new theme. The foundations stay, they are good quality.' Shipping is free, too, if you spend more than £35. And there are other incentives, says Janine. 'They give you vouchers. They say: add another item to your basket to receive a bigger discount. 'Then when I look at it, it's as if I've got those curtains free.' But Shein is not popular with everyone. The brand has been criticised for its sustainability practices, with concerns raised about textile waste and excessive carbon emissions. I'm not here trying to impress anyone, I'm creating a space that feels like me Last August, Janine says: 'I know there are conversations around sustainability with brands like Shein and it's something I do think about. 'When I was decorating, I made sure to choose pieces I actually love and knew I'd keep – not something trendy for a quick fix. I've never been sent the wrong product, or had to return anything, either. 'I think sustainability is also about how you use things and how long you keep them, not just where they come from.' 'I've mixed and matched, like I would with clothes. I might buy a designer outfit, but wear a T-shirt from Primark. 'I'll change a few things in winter, like adding a fluffy rug and throws. I like that I can switch things up without spending a fortune.' Janine has converted the garage in her house, adding an upstairs level and separate entrance to create an Airbnb. She also has an Airbnb property in Egypt. Both are decorated with Shein homeware. 'I love my 'Shein house',' she says. 'It feels warm, modern and personal – and that's what matters, not that I've had any negative comments – quite the reverse. 'I'm not here trying to impress anyone, I'm creating a space that feels like me. It's like I've curated a little Pinterest board in real life .' 8 She choses to spend more money on big-ticket item such as this sofa from DFS for £2,000, and instead save on the accessories that finish off a room Credit: Huw Evans 8 I love my 'Shein house', says Janine Credit: Huw Evans 8 Janine's husband couldn't believe she had only spent £269 on their house transformation Credit: Huw Evans
Wales Online
11-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Welsh rugby's possible new future as behind-scenes talks reach crucial stage
Welsh rugby's possible new future as behind-scenes talks reach crucial stage Talks are happening in Welsh rugby's corridors of power and it is clear change must and will happen, Steffan Thomas reports Change is coming to Welsh rugby this summer (Image: Huw Evans ) The future direction of Welsh rugby will be shaped this summer. That is no exaggeration. Wales effectively has two choices: it can limp on as it is and consign itself to a future of mediocrity at best or it can radically change the structure of the game in this country to give itself the best chance of sustained success. The penny has dropped with the Welsh Rugby Union and the Professional Rugby Board are working very hard behind the scenes to come up with a solution. The problems do not need another in-depth explanation. The men's national team have lost their previous 17 Test matches - a tier one record - and the four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - have struggled to attain any sort of sustained success. Something has to change and things cannot go on as they are. Article continues below When the men's national side struggles it has a negative knock-on effect on the whole of Welsh rugby from a financial sense. Yes, there are some talented youngsters in the current Wales squad who will get better, while there are some potentially outstanding players emerging from the pathway, but the WRU needs to produce the optimum structure to give them the best chance of developing. Currently Wales' talent is spread too thinly across four professional clubs, while there are also a plethora of Welsh-qualified players in England. During the 2024/25 season, the Welsh clubs were operating from a salary cap of £4.5m, although that will rise next season at Cardiff and the Dragons who have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement. The Gallagher Premiership salary cap this season was £6.4m which can rise to as high as £7.8m with home-grown player credits, international player credits and extra money for injury dispensation, while they are permitted one marquee player above the cap. In Ireland, Leinster have been significantly more well-resourced than the other three provinces - Connacht, Munster and Ulster - although this gap is closing next season. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. It is very difficult to pin down Leinster's exact playing budgets but Irish sources have told WalesOnline it is in the region of €10.6m Crucially, in Ireland, professional sportsmen get a tax break when they retire which means the sides in Ireland don't have to pay their players as much. For example, a professional player in Wales might be on £120,000 at the Scarlets but get offered £180,000 to sign for Exeter Chiefs. In Ireland a player might be on £120,000 at Munster but get offered £180,000 to sign for an English club but if he stays in Ireland he will be able to claim money back upon retirement. The Irish Government also puts huge investment into professional sport. For example, Connacht received a €10 million grant through the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund to go towards the development of a new stadium in Galway. These are issues outside of the WRU's control but if it wants professional clubs who are competing for silverware every season they are likely to need playing budgets in the region of £9m. The reality is it cannot do this with four clubs any longer and that is why it is looking at the prospect of reducing to three, if not two, professional sides. For the national side to get back to winning Six Nations Grand Slams it needs its professional clubs competing every year in the latter stages of the Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship, if not winning it. This requires a greater squad spend but also creating an elitist high-performance system built on extremely high standards. For example, Leinster have a squad of 58 players and there is huge cohesion in terms of partnerships, which benefits Ireland at Test level. If you look at Leinster's front-row they have the likes of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong as starters but on the bench they have further internationals in the shape of Ronan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson, along with a senior France international in Rabah Slimani. To put it into context their two first choice hookers are in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer. That is the level of depth and competition for places needed for Welsh rugby to thrive. Also, with greater depth there will be less of a drop off when teams suffer injuries. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free There are also 32 non-Welsh qualified players in Wales, so fewer professional clubs would result in a significant reduction, but the ones that are signed should in theory be marquee players in the same bracket as All Blacks superstar Jordie Barrett who is on a sabbatical at Leinster. At international level Ireland is mainly Leinster with the likes of Tadhg Beirne and Bundee Aki added in on top. The players are all in sync with each other and also benefit from being part of a squad which is regularly competing at the cutting edge of competitions. Wales needs to produce something similar. Two or three clubs competing every year in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup as a minimum, with the aim of winning is what is being discussed behind closed doors. It is close to impossible to achieve this with four clubs. Talent needs to be concentrated to increase competition for places which should in theory drive up standards across the board which was the thinking behind moving to regional rugby back in 2003. Also, it should also be an aim of the WRU to have at least one club participate in the financially lucrative Club World Cup which will be launched in 2028. Latter stage participation will also significantly improve commercial performances and bring in money across the board. But what also needs to be taken into consideration is what structure underpins the professional game. A new-look Super Rygbi Cymru If the WRU decides to reduce to three or two clubs there needs to be greater investment in Super Rygbi Cymru so it can potentially mirror New Zealand's NPC. The first season of SRC has been positive with the competition achieving far greater alignment to the pathway than the old Welsh Premiership did. But the gap between the professional game and the SRC still needs to be bridged significantly before it is anywhere near the level on offer in New Zealand. But if the WRU reduces the number of professional sides it will have the money to invest in the SRC to significantly increase standards, interest among fans who still hold famous club names dear and commercial possibilities. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Naturally, there will also be more professional standard players available to SRC teams if there are fewer professional clubs. If we go down to two professional clubs they will have far deeper squads and will release a greater percentage of players to play in the SRC. Article continues below The discussions at PRB level have to focus on what is needed to get the men's national side competing at the top end of the world game again The way to do that is to have professional clubs regularly competing for and winning silverware. Those at the top of Welsh are increasingly aware the status quo simply cannot deliver that.
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.
Wales Online
07-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
The WRU ultimatum explained as ticking clock could now blow everything apart
The WRU ultimatum explained as ticking clock could now blow everything apart The future direction of the professional game in Wales is at stake The Welsh Rugby Union (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) The future of rugby in Wales is at another critical stage as the Welsh Rugby Union attempts to push through a new Professional Rugby Agreement. As WalesOnline exclusively revealed on Tuesday night, the Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets have been given a deadline of Thursday night to sign the new PRA or decisive action will be taken by the governing body, which could lead to seismic changes within the game. This will involve serving the three teams with the required two-year notice period that they intend to end the current PRA and potentially transform the rugby landscape in Wales. Going down this path undoubtedly throws the clubs' futures into long-term doubt, with the WRU able to revoke licences at the end of the notice period. Cardiff, of course, are now owned by the WRU after the capital club's financial collapse last month. So, what does it all mean and what is likely to happen next? Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas takes a deep dive into the current situation. What are the WRU trying to push through? The WRU are attempting to push through a new PRA which they are confident will bring financial stability to Wales' four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. Article continues below They believe the current PRA is not fit for purpose and need to push the clubs onto the new deal as soon as possible after a protracted stalemate that has gone on long enough. The new PRA will see increased funding to the clubs with the intention of moving the salary cap from £4.5m to £6.9m by financial year 2029, although two marquee players are permitted above the cap. But the key element of the new PRA is the WRU's attempt to refinance the debt at all four clubs, which it will transfer onto its own balance sheet. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. The WRU is looking to take on around £35m of new debt which would refinance its existing NatWest and Welsh Government facilities of £30m. There is Welsh Government debt of £12.5m which was passed through to the clubs via the WRU. The idea is to increase funding but crucially improve the balance sheets of the club's by taking away the debt they acquired during Covid. This makes them sustainable and attractive to investors. What is the hold up? In February the WRU announced all four clubs had agreed to the new PRA in principle, but had not put pen to paper. But things have changed dramatically since then. Cardiff Rugby entered administration last month after Helford Capital failed to meet its financial obligations. As a result, Cardiff are now under WRU ownership and this is where negotiations have hit a wall. The acquisition of Cardiff and its assets cost the WRU £780,000, with the governing body taking £3.1m of what was the club's £9m debt, with £6m left to its new Cardiff Subsidiary Company. But under the new PRA the funding directors at all four clubs are required to act as personal guarantors to cover any funding deficit. As far as Cardiff are concerned the WRU are now its benefactor and are planning to put in £2.1m extra. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free The private clubs understandably have some concerns and have questions which need answering. They believe the £2.1m of benefactor contribution the WRU are spending on Cardiff should also be spent on the other three under the spirit of fairness. There are also concerns from the other three that the WRU will attempt to turn Cardiff into a super club, a bit like the Irish Rugby Football Union have done with Leinster, but to a lesser extent. WalesOnline understands the three clubs have suggested changing the voting rights on the Professional Rugby Board, given Cardiff are now owned by the WRU. They have also questioned whether Cardiff should be permitted to sign any players from the other three clubs while owned by the WRU. When approached by WalesOnline, the WRU have refuted the accusation it is attempting to turn Cardiff into a super club which would be funded significantly higher than the other three clubs, as long as they sign the new PRA. The WRU want to sell Cardiff within two years and have created a pack for investors which will be published next week. Of course, the Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets could all sign by the deadline and everything carries on. Why are the WRU so desperate to get the clubs to sign a new PRA by Thursday? This is the key part. Natwest will not agree to refinance the debt under the current PRA. This is because under the old agreement any uplift the WRU gets in terms of profit goes to the four professional clubs. But, understandably, the banks see this as too much of a risk and won't refinance the debt if those terms still exist because they want their money back. The WRU are at a stage where they are desperate for the new PRA to be signed because this is what the banks demand in return for refinancing the debt on very favourable terms. Clearly Cardiff will sign the new deal because they are owned by the WRU, but the other three are currently playing hardball. Were the three independent clubs to sign, they'll be better off in direct cash and debt terms, but it remains to be seen if the threat of action turns the dial on allaying their fears. If they do not sign by midnight on Thursday, the two-year notice period is set to be served and we enter a very different ball game where things could get messy very quickly While the WRU maintain they want to make four pro clubs work, there are those within the upper echelons of Welsh rugby who are adamant the best structure going forward should see three teams at most. Serving the notice period triggers a move towards a situation where the WRU would actually have the legal power to revoke the URC and European competition playing licence of any team it wished. What happens if the WRU call in the two-year notice on the current PRA? To terminate the current PRA the WRU need to give the clubs a notice period of two years. If the clubs don't sign there are a number of potential outcomes that could play out. In the short term, Welsh rugby could feasibly move to a 1+3 model, where WRU-owned Cardiff are funded to the extent they can compete strongly on the field, with the other three left on a £4.5m salary cap burdened with significant debt for the next two years. How long they would survive on those terms is questionable. Of course, there is also a possibility the three teams refuse to sign by Thursday, but come to agreement further down the line, after the two-year notice has been triggered. The prospect of no deal being signed by the deadline but talks continuing is very feasible. The most severe consequence of all this would result in Wales reducing to three professional clubs. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. WRU CEO Abi Tierney's aim is to retain four professional teams that are sustainable and funded to a level where they can compete. But if they do not sign the new PRA things could spiral out of the WRU's control. The clubs won't be competitive on a £4.5m budget for the next couple of years, while they will be burdened by debt. The survival of the remaining three then depends on what their funding directors are prepared to put in to cover the deficits and each of the three clubs have their unique set of challenges. Even if the clubs did manage to hang on for the full two years, there is then potential for seismic change and the loss of a team, or teams. The WRU holds the licences for the Welsh clubs competing in the URC and European competitions, and these could be withdrawn. It has been well documented that cutting a team would see the union penalised financially in the short-term for not fulfilling their four-team obligations to the competitions they are part of, although after two years they would arguably be better off. The WRU is adamant it wants to stick with four teams, but not signing the new PRA clearly could have huge ramifications for the professional game in Wales. There really is a lot at stake here. In giving notice, the WRU would need to set out very clearly how they see the way forward and some will argue there is a potential conflict of interest with their current ownership of Cardiff. Going down a path that exposes the other professional clubs to such a huge potential threat is sure to heighten tensions and lead to possible legal disputes, were a team to be cut in two years' time. Article continues below A saga that has now rumbled for countless years feels like it is reaching a decisive moment.
