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Wales Online
5 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Ospreys chief reveals latest on WRU talks and makes admission over situation
Ospreys chief reveals latest on WRU talks and makes admission over situation Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley has spoken out Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley with the players (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley says he is confident in the club's future after the Welsh Rugby Union announced it would no longer fund four regions equally. Both Cardiff and the Dragons will be on the new Professional Rugby Agreement next season which will see increased and fixed funding for the next three years, along with significant debt relief. On the flip side both the Ospreys and the Scarlets refused to sign after raising concerns about the WRU's takeover of Cardiff. This means both clubs will remain on the old PRA with less funding, while they could also face significant clawbacks by the WRU. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. But the Ospreys have decided to proceed with their move to St Helen's and have officially submitted a planning application to redevelop the famous old ground. "I'm slightly limited about what I can say in that respect but we are still talking to the WRU about that situation," Bradley told BBC Radio Wales. Article continues below "If we weren't confident of a positive outcome that would obviously make things a lot more difficult. "The fact that we are still proceeding full steam ahead with the development and with the plans for St Helen's does indicate a level of confidence, yes. "In terms of the actual PRA contract there really isn't anything to discuss. "The issue arose around Cardiff going into administration and now being owned by the WRU. "That's the conversation." The WRU have taken the PRA 25 off the table for both the Ospreys and Scarlets and have activated the two-year notice clause on the current contract. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free As a result the WRU are seriously considering reducing to three if not two professional clubs, with United Rugby Championship CEO Martin Anayi confirming the league will back Welsh rugby whatever decision it comes to. But Bradley remains confident the Ospreys have a bright future. "I saw Martin Anayi's comments and that's what you would expect," Bradley added. "The WRU are a shareholder of URC so you would expect them to be talking to each other and to be supportive but I don't think you should necessarily read into that we will definitely be going to three regions. "As I say, the conversations are still ongoing. "I am confident of a positive outcomes. "We are working very closely with Scarlets and I completely understand the nervousness and the unsettling nature of where we all are at the moment. "We try to keep fans as updated as possible and as soon as we are able to do that then we will in this situation. "I hope that we are moving closer to a resolution. "We are not there at the moment but I'm hoping we will be reasonably shortly." The Ospreys confirmed the signing of Wales and British & Irish Lions backrower Ross Moriarty from Brive yesterday and have already signed Queensland Reds captain Ryan Smith. But Bradley did admit planning for the future is difficult given the uncertainty surrounding Welsh rugby but is confident the Ospreys will be playing at St Helen's by December of this year. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Article continues below "Admittedly that makes planning more difficult and it's a bit frustrating because we think this could have all been avoided," he said. "It is a bit frustrating but life isn't always a smooth road and there's sometimes road bumps in it and this is one of those road bumps. "We are managing our way through that."
Wales Online
29-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
WRU announce major new appointment at critical time for game in Wales
WRU announce major new appointment at critical time for game in Wales The WRU have announced a major new appointment New WRU CCO Leighton Davies (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has appointed Leighton Davies as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). This new role was previously described as the Chief Growth Officer and has been created to bring growth to the WRU and the whole Welsh rugby ecosystem. Davies is currently WRU Chief Operating Officer (COO) and, having led the effort across the business to implement robust business process and a solid financial foundation, will take up the new role later this summer - with a replacement COO to be recruited. He is also the WRU Chief Operating Officer having joined the WRU as Chief Financial Officer in March 2024, while he also sits on the Professional Rugby Board. 'I am really excited to be taking up this new role," said Davies. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "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.' The professional game in Wales is at a critical stage in its history after the Ospreys and Scarlets refused to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement due to concerns the WRU were planning to turn Cardiff into a super club after buying the capital city side. Following Cardiff and the Dragons' decision to sign PRA 25 it led to the WRU activating the two-year notice clause on the old agreement, leaving the two west Wales clubs in limbo. The future direction of professional rugby in Wales will be decided over the coming months but a reduction to three or even two clubs is a very real possibility. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free As a result Davies will have a critical role to play in the future direction of the professional game. 'We are delighted that Leighton has accepted this new challenge in such a pivotal role for Welsh rugby," said WRU CEO Abi Tierney. Article continues below "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.' Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
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.'
Irish Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Welsh Rugby Union makes ‘difficult but necessary decision' over four-club model
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has announced it will move away from a model of four evenly funded clubs after Ospreys and Scarlets did not sign up to its new Professional Rugby Agreement. The agreement (PRA25) had been signed by Dragons and Cardiff, who were last month taken over by the WRU 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', adding: 'Until we have greater clarity, we are currently unable to sign the PRA25.' On Sunday, the WRU released a statement saying that with those clubs not signing by the deadline set, it had therefore taken the 'difficult but necessary decision to issue the formal two-year notice to terminate the current PRA agreement in order, in particular, to proceed with its debt refinancing.' READ MORE The statement continued: 'The One Wales Strategy [unveiled in June last year] was designed to create a more aligned, financially sustainable and competitive future for professional rugby across Wales. 'The WRU's preference from the outset was to maintain four professional clubs [on equal funding] within this framework. Everyone worked hard to achieve that. However, agreement on the new PRA25 could not be reached with two of the professional clubs. 'This is not a decision that was taken lightly, however given the WRU's duties to the game in Wales as a whole, the broader performance, financial and strategic needs of the game must take precedence. 'In practical terms, the WRU will work closely with all four professional clubs to agree the way forward beyond June 2027, with an open mind to all constructive and realistic proposals. 'That said, given the seismic changes in the rugby landscape since we first started negotiating PRA25, the system will not return to the model of four evenly funded clubs.' 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.'
ITV News
18-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Welsh Rugby Union makes announcement over future of four regions
The Welsh Rugby Union has announced it will move away from a model of four evenly funded clubs after Ospreys and Scarlets did not sign up to its new Professional Rugby Agreement. The agreement (PRA25) had been signed by Dragons and Cardiff, who were last month taken over by the WRU 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', adding: 'Until we have greater clarity, we are currently unable to sign the PRA25.' On Sunday, the WRU released a statement saying that with those clubs not signing by the deadline set, it had therefore taken the 'difficult but necessary decision to issue the formal two-year notice to terminate the current PRA agreement in order, in particular, to proceed with its debt refinancing.' The statement continued: 'The One Wales Strategy (unveiled in June last year) was designed to create a more aligned, financially sustainable and competitive future for professional rugby across Wales. 'The WRU's preference from the outset was to maintain four professional clubs (on equal funding) within this framework. Everyone worked hard to achieve that. However, agreement on the new PRA25 could not be reached with two of the professional clubs. 'This is not a decision that was taken lightly, however given the WRU's duties to the game in Wales as a whole, the broader performance, financial and strategic needs of the game must take precedence. 'In practical terms, the WRU will work closely with all four professional clubs to agree the way forward beyond June 2027, with an open mind to all constructive and realistic proposals. 'That said, given the seismic changes in the rugby landscape since we first started negotiating PRA25, the system will not return to the model of four evenly funded clubs.' The announcement comes after reports that one of the four regional teams would be cut under the new plans, something neither confirmed nor denied by the WRU. 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.'
