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Sky News
21 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News
Fears for future of Welsh rugby amid cuts to grassroots scheme
There are fears for the future of Welsh rugby amid cuts to grassroots funding and a record string of defeats for the men's senior national team. The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) recently confirmed it would stop funding a scheme created to develop the game at grassroots level. Its rugby hub officers have been employed in schools across Wales since 2014, with match funding from the WRU. Their main purpose has been to engage young people in rugby and encourage them to pursue their interest in the sport in local clubs. The governing body for rugby union in Wales says the aim would be for a "restructured programme" with "100% coverage" across the country. The change in approach comes at a difficult time for the WRU, which reported a loss of £7.5m last year. A petition calling for the WRU to reconsider its decision to discontinue the scheme has been signed nearly 5,000 times, describing the hub officers as the "backbone of grassroots rugby". Some areas who have felt the benefit of the officers are fearing for the future of the grassroots game. Einion Davies is the chairman of Bro Gwernant Rugby Club in Llangollen, Denbighshire. This weekend, he is embarking on a sponsored walk to raise funds to secure the role for the next two years. Mr Davies told Sky News he was "shocked" to learn the hub officer scheme was coming to an end. "We were informed school that he works at, that the funding has been withdrawn," he said. "And the work that he's done there, as a club, we were keen to keep it all going, so we decided as a club to try and raise some of that money ourselves so we can keep him in his role." 'Big mistake' There was "hardly any rugby" played in the "predominantly football-orientated" area before a hub officer was appointed for the area, Mr Davies said. But he acknowledged that money was "tight" and that difficult decisions had to be made. "I would imagine, they've got to make cuts and whatever in some places. But, in my opinion, to cut the grassroots, an investment in grassroots, is a big mistake," he added. He hopes his 54-mile trek, split over three days, will help secure the role and help Bro Gwernant find the next generation of Welsh rugby stars. "As a club, we did put some of the money towards it as well, because obviously the cost, the National Insurance and everything's gone up, so the cost of the wages has gone up," he said. "So we were doing the fundraising anyway, but since this funding's been withdrawn from the WRU, it's made it a lot harder for the club. "We're striving to do our best to keep him, but it's made it a lot more difficult." The WRU said schools and educational establishments, who part-fund the programme, are "free to reconsider how they re-allocate their investment in rugby" as a result of its decision. Geraint John, the WRU's community director said: "Due to an internal consultation process we are unable to expand on our future plans for community further than the statement published last month.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Welsh rugby team involved in violent Canadian bar brawl as ugly video footage emerges
Welsh rugby team involved in violent Canadian bar brawl as ugly video footage emerges The incident is understood to have taken place last Saturday outside a bar in Calgary Ugly footage has emerged of a fight believed to involve a Welsh rugby team at a bar in Canada. Videos of violence from last Saturday night in Calgary city centre have been circulating on social media and we understand several of those pictured are members of Nelson RFC's senior men's team, grappling with what are believed to be locals outside a bar. Members of the rugby side, who are believed to be have been in the country on rugby tour, are understood to be dressed in shirts and ties and are seen in physical altercations with bar-goers. Don't miss a rugby story, sign up for our newsletter Punches appear to be thrown while a growing crowd watch on from the pavement outside of the drinking establishment. The brawl then looks like it separates into two smaller scuffles to the left and right of the bar. At one stage a patron wearing a shirt and tie is lifted off his feet and dropped to the floor by a man dressed all in black. When he rises to his feet he is punched by a different man to the floor, falling backwards into the street. Welsh rugby team involved in violent Canadian bar brawl The fight appears to have taken place outside Spanky's Saloon, a "Nashville-inspired" bar on 10 Avenue, SW Calgary. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office said: "We have not been approached for consular assistance in this case, but our staff stand ready to support British Nationals overseas 24/7." Nelson Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club team based in Caerphilly who plays in the Welsh Rugby Union's Division One East League. Their club badge is a white unicorn on black. Nelson RFC said they are working to investigate the incident with the WRU and will provide a comment in due course. The WRU have been approached for comment. Article continues below Calgary Police said: "While we are aware of the video circulating online, the Calgary Police Service can confirm no charges have been laid."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
The options available for Welsh rugby after two-year notice period activated
The options available for Welsh rugby after two-year notice period activated Welsh rugby faces an uncertain few months with big changes afoot The Welsh Rugby Union will no longer allow four equally funded teams (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) The future of professional rugby in Wales is extremely uncertain after both the Ospreys and Scarlets refused to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement. As a result, the Welsh Rugby Union issued a two-year notice on the old PRA which both clubs will remain on next season after Cardiff and the Dragons signed the new agreement. Next season, there will be a tiered funding model with Cardiff and the Dragons receiving more WRU payments than the west Wales clubs. But the long-term future of the professional game in Wales is up in the air with the WRU hoping to put a firm plan in place by September. The old PRA put back on the table for all four clubs The WRU are adamant the new PRA is off the table for both the Ospreys and Scarlets. In the new PRA, all four clubs were to see an increase in funding, would be funded equally, while the WRU would transfer their debts acquired during Covid onto its own balance sheet. But after the west Wales clubs refused to sign it after failing to meet the WRU's deadline, the governing body announced it would call in the two-year notice period on the old PRA and insisted it would no longer fund the four professional clubs equally. If the WRU were to go back, it would prove to be an extraordinary U-turn and the leadership of the governing body would be questioned. But might a public outcry and pressure from politicians within the Ospreys and Scarlets regions force the WRU to reconsider its position? Nothing is out of the question but it does seem highly unlikely as things stand. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Financially things have changed, with the WRU now requiring the funding directors at the professional clubs to contribute £41m over five years as opposed to the £22m it initially asked. Also, it had hoped to secure what would have been a lucrative Anglo-Welsh conference if PRL had combined with the United Rugby Championship. The poor performance of the men's national side has also hit the WRU hard, while national insurance contributions have risen and media rights are down. A club goes bust If the WRU want to go down to three, the easiest solution would be to scrap Cardiff given they own the capital city club. But not having a professional club in Wales' capital city is commercial lunacy, while they are also currently the best supported Welsh side and have an extremely strong brand. In the old PRA, the professional clubs win with the union and they lose with the union, whereas in the new one there is fixed funding for three years. Any upside in the WRU's profit goes to the professional clubs but if the governing body underachieves financially that hurts the clubs. This is the deal the Ospreys and the Scarlets will be on next season. As it stands, both the Ospreys and Scarlets will be operating with playing budgets of under £5m next season, but the biggest issue is any potential WRU clawbacks. The PRA they are on includes an underperformance clause, so for example if the WRU lost £4m last year, both the Ospreys and the Scarlets would be subject to clawbacks. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free For example, the WRU could demand money is returned - depending on the terms of the contract - or it could decide to issue a lower payment. Also, on top of this, they have to repay the CLBILS loan taken out during Covid, which is no longer a burden on the shoulders of Cardiff or the Dragons. But even if this was the case, both clubs would survive as long as their funding directors continue to cover any losses. By not signing PRA 25, the future of both clubs in the west has been thrown into doubt. If one club goes to the wall then the WRU could decide not to assume ownership and Welsh rugby would be down to three professional clubs. Or if two went bust, they could assume ownership of one club by playing out of either Parc y Scarlets or St Helen's. Mergers The other option is for the Ospreys and Scarlets to merge. In theory, this would create a strong side which should be able to compete in the latter stages of both the United Rugby Championship and European competitions - but it is not as straightforward as that. If two companies merge, it is usually the case they take on each other's debt which would put any new entity on the backfoot. But a large amount of their debt is actually owed to the WRU, so might the union offer to write it off if they both merge? Nothing is out of the question at this stage. Of course, another radical solution would be to merge the Ospreys with Cardiff given the capital city club is owned by the WRU. A permanent tiered funding model Tiered funding models are not a new invention and were prevalent during Project Reset with the Scarlets receiving more than the other clubs based on performance. But for the clubs to be competitive at the cutting edge of competitions it would likely need to be a very aggressive model to work. However, the biggest barrier to success in this regard is the fact three of the four professional clubs are private businesses. Who is going to accept semi-skimmed status? The answer is nobody. Could you imagine the Ospreys being one of the lowest two and losing players like Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake or Dan Edwards to the Dragons? They would not stand for it unless they had no other choice. Welsh rugby's culture and ownership model makes this unlikely to work in the long run. Why would the WRU want a reduction of professional clubs? The WRU are considering a reduction to three professional clubs, while going down to two is also not out of the question. If Wales was to go down to three clubs it would concentrate both money and talent into three teams which in theory should drive up standards. For too long, the emphasis in Welsh rugby has been on quantity over quality. The current structure spreads playing talent too thinly. A reduction to three teams would concentrate that talent, improve squad depth, and, in theory, drive up standards across the board. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. It would also create greater accountability, with players forced to fight harder for places, contracts and game-time — a dynamic that invariably sharpens performance. Such a move wouldn't just be financially motivated but there is a strong rugby argument behind it. Also, is this really how professional sport should work and imagine trying to sell season tickets and attracting sponsors as one of the plus two. Legal action Of course, this could drag on for a significant amount of time if the two clubs in the west decide to take legal action. The clubs may complain there has been an abuse of the WRU's dominant position and that this amounts to anti-competitive behaviour. Some might also argue there is a lack of contractual fairness and equity in this whole process. Article continues below The WRU would inevitably counter such accusation by saying they offered the exact same deal to the Ospreys and Scarlets as they did to the other two professional clubs. But if this goes legal, it could prolong this whole saga and the WRU's hopes of putting a solution in place by September would just be a case of wishful thinking.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- 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."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- 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.
