Welsh rugby at war as clubs hit back at WRU after ‘astonishing’ statement

A new letter has been sent to clubs by Central Glamorgan Union, hitting back at the WRU’s public response on Friday night

A Welsh district has hit back at the Welsh Rugby Union’s forthright response to its call for an EGM that could oust chairman Richard Collier-Keywood, accusing bosses of scaremongering and striking fear into clubs.

Friday night’s strongly-worded letter from WRU chiefs questioned the motives of those seeking change, insisting the push for an EGM was an irresponsible nuclear option that would damage the game in Wales. The union claimed the move would halt restructuring of the professional game, create prolonged uncertainty, risk the loss of new banking facilities and financial support, as well as delaying investment in pathways and academies.

But, far from going away quietly, Central Glamorgan Rugby Union, the group representing clubs in Neath, Port Talbot, Maesteg and Bridgend, has come out fighting in a new letter to member clubs, describing the WRU’s response as “astonishing”.

The Central Glamorgan Rugby Union, one of nine districts that help make up the WRU, reiterated its call for a vote of no confidence in chair Collier-Keywood and Malcolm Wall, the chair of the Professional Rugby Board.

It also wants the WRU council to hold elections for the four elected member board positions within 14 days after the EGM. The first two motions require 50.1% of the vote, while the third motion is to amend how the WRU district and council members are elected, but that one will require 75% of the vote.

The support of just 10% of clubs (around 30) is required to trigger an EGM, while 95 clubs would need to attend to make it valid.

The new letter, which comes as the WRU continues to try and drive through its decision to cut the number of professional teams from four to three, states: “We do not believe that calling an EGM is an irresponsible first nuclear option which will cause significant damage to Welsh rugby. The irony of this statement is astonishing given the significant damage that is already being done by the leadership.”

“Welsh Rugby certainly is at a critical moment with the current leadership being unable to formulate and commence the delivery of a plan that sets our game in Wales on the right track to support the Professional, SRC, Female and Community Game.

“The motions and recommendations from Central Glamorgan RU would not seriously harm Welsh Rugby, the current leadership are doing that themselves. In fact, the Board should support motions 2 and 3 themselves to allow the best four people out of the 19 elected council members to serve on the WRU board. This after all is good governance, having the best people in those roles.

“Since March 2025 we have seen U-Turn after U-turn. We were told that there was significant investment to fund four teams, then we see a consultation process where the preferred option was two teams, which then went to three teams and talk of a SRC team playing in the URC, comments made about fans following players and now the board being split over the sale of Cardiff Rugby. All this in a number of months, the list just goes on.

“We were then told that a decision about the three teams would be made by the end of 2025 and here we are still in limbo with people’s livelihoods on the line with yet another possible consultation process being lined up for the licenses.

“We are not the ones causing any uncertainty for players, staff, volunteers, sponsors, supporters and community rugby in Wales. We have no control over that– as already mentioned, it is the current leadership that is causing this problem, combined with the fact that they are paying extortionate amounts of money on consultants who have no experience of Welsh rugby themselves. The consultants must be rubbing their hands with glee. You only have to look at public opinion on social media and the fact that the leadership have been called to answer questions from MPs about the future of the game in Wales.

“The call for an EGM does not undermine any governance stability, which risks the loss of new banking facilities, financial support from grant makers and money from sponsors and business partners. Let us be crystal clear, we are not asking for any governance changes that were implemented in 2023. This statement from the WRU is just another scaremongering tactic for clubs not to support an EGM.

“People in power can use scaremongering as a tactical tool to gain support and control the agenda. Fear is a powerful emotion that can bypass logical reasoning making people more susceptible to manipulation. We live in a society where we have a democratic right to call an EGM under Article 29 of the Articles of Association and should fear no reprisals or repercussions from doing so.

“We are sure that the bank, sponsors and business partners are more concerned about the reputational damage that is being caused to Welsh Rugby by the leadership, and the negative publicity being received and the fact that personnel must appear before MPs. This is certainly more of a concern than the removal of two people from the organisation.

“We also ask the question of why an EGM would delay the investment in pathways and academies? This is a very important part of the pyramid, yet we have seen no progress at all. The only delay here is the leadership not acting on their plans. They have promised so much and delivered nothing and have missed deadlines that they themselves have imposed.

“The (WRU) letter also states: ‘We have turned a financial and governance corner in the past two years. Independent experts have confirmed our significant progress’.

“Yet all we are seeing is an increase in the organizational structure, overinflated salaries, the use of consultants and no progress at all, except reputation damage to our game. Money is not being invested properly into the core product which is rugby.”

The WRU has said there are a number of routes for clubs to raise concerns, insisting an EGM should only be a last resort. It says no issues have been raised by clubs, including at the recent AGM.

The Union said: “We received no questions on the topics raised in the letter at our Annual General Meeting, which took place less than two months ago.

“We want to raise this, as it goes to motive, and raises questions on why the individuals involved have chosen not to use the routes available to them and instead have gone straight to an EGM.”

However, in the new letter sent by Central Glamorgan Union, district boss Derek Davies says: “As clubs we have been criticised for not asking questions at the 2025 AGM, but without the Annual Report and statements of accounts how we can challenge? The accounts should be issued 21 days prior to the AGM as per the WRU Articles of Association, but they were not issued until the Friday evening, yet another ploy not to challenge and be silenced.

“This was the second year in a row that this has happened. The WRU have now arranged two briefing sessions for 17.15hrs on the 19th of January and midday on 21st January 2026.

“These sessions are on a Monday evening and a Wednesday afternoon. These are key times of the day when people are either travelling home from work or are in work. We are all volunteers and these dates and times just shows how far out of touch they are with the member clubs.”

The letter concludes: “Since the AGM we have seen more uncertainty, players leaving, a delay in announcing the men’s coaching set up for the 6 Nations and the resignation of a well-respected and highly knowledgeable council member who had no confidence in the Board.

“The final paragraph of the WRU letter states ‘WRU member clubs are the heart and centre of Welsh rugby. Together the WRU and its clubs are the guardians of Wales’ most recognisable, precious and historic manifestation on the world stage’.

“It is sad and unfortunate that at this moment in time we are not held in high esteem, and we are now recognised as a laughing stock on the world stage, especially with a documentary being made with that headline. We want to change the narrative in a respectful manner and act in the best interests of rebuilding all parts of Welsh Rugby with the right personnel.

“We have attached the paperwork with the EGM motions and recommendations and hope the scaremongering does not stop your club from supporting the changes by signing and returning the form at the earliest opportunity.”