The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has hit back at claims the women’s programme is a financial drain on the men’s game.

WRU women’s rugby director Nadine Griffiths said allegations she had read on social media that a region is to be cut because of investment in the women’s game were “embarrassing”.

And she added the women’s game had in fact made money for the governing body.

The Union has had a professional women’s programme since the start of 2022 and there are now more than 40 contracted players.

But plans to axe one of the four men’s professional regions – most likely Scarlets or Ospreys – has stirred hostility.

“I’m really disappointed and slightly embarrassed by some of the comments I read online about the women’s game taking money from the men’s game,” she said.

“It doesn’t. There are five different budget lines, including the men, women, [Principality] stadium and community game.”

Griffiths added the women’s game generated £1.7m last year and, compared with the men’s side of the sport, has more potential for commercial growth.

“If we look at the men’s game we are hitting ceilings in terms of where our commercial growth opportunities are, there’s only so much more we can charge for tickets, there’s only so many people we can get into the ground,” Griffiths said.

“Our women’s game is a growth area and provides us an opportunity to really bring in some serious cash into Welsh rugby as a whole.

“It’s bringing people who don’t traditionally watch rugby and again it leads into that commercial growth where we’re selling more jerseys and watching more games. So it actually lends into growing Welsh rugby as a whole.”

Griffiths has been in post since June and is part of the WRU’s executive team.

Her current priority for the women’s game is visibility – building the profile of not only the senior team, but also pathways and grassroots rugby.

She accepts that is not helped by the miserable current form of the the senior side who are without a win in their last nine Test matches and have slumped to an all time low of 13th in the world.

“We can’t hide from the fact that results matter,” said the former international.

“The litmus test will be the WXV competition. It gives us a brilliant opportunity to test our progress playing against three sides that are ranked higher than us.”

Wales open their campaign against South Africa on Friday at Cardiff Arms Park (19:15 BST) and play USA at the same venue eight days later. They then travel to Japan for two Tests in October.

“[Results] are not going to come overnight, we’re building a house and we have to build those foundations,” Griffiths said, pointing to encouraging results from the under-18s and under-21s sides.

Head coach Sean Lynn also selected eight uncapped players in his WXV squad.

“It shows us that our pathways are working. When they are working and you’ve built that competition for places, eventually results will come.”