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The WRU have labelled the alternative proposals as “irresponsible”
The Welsh Rugby Union has warned its member clubs not to call an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), labelling it an “irresponsible nuclear option”.
Last week the Central Glamorgan Rugby Union sent out a letter urging clubs to call an EGM where it proposed three motions. The first was a vote of no confidence in chair Richard 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.
Welsh rugby has been in chaos since the WRU executive announced plans to radically restructure the professional game, which includes a reduction from four to three regions.
Central Glamorgan Rugby Union have proposed an immediate halt to the WRU’s plans to amend the structure of the professional game, a full review of the governing bodies finances and that a rugby steering group be set up within six weeks.
It also wants to set up a central national academy within three months, among other things.
But in a letter sent out to all member clubs seen by WalesOnline the WRU insists now is not the time to gamble with the game’s future.
If an EGM is called the WRU claim the following is at stake:
• £28million investment in the future – pathways, academies, coaching, talent and insights and Super Rygbi Cymru. Delay now means missing the boat for men’s and women’s rugby and undermining long-term success on the field.
• Financial and commercial stability – financial stability, investment, government backing, sponsorships and supporter retention and growth depend on confidence in governance. An EGM would put this at risk.
• Governance integrity – reversing the ground-breaking governance reforms agreed by more than 90% of members as recently as 2023 would drag Welsh rugby back to outdated structures and a return to debilitation factional internal politics.
Terry Cobner, president, Richard Collier-Keywood, chair, and Abi Tierney, chief executive, said to the clubs: “This is not the moment to gamble with Welsh rugby’s future with the short-sighted and debilitating motions that have been presented. We have a plan. It was shaped by you. It is published. Let’s deliver it together.”
For an EGM to be called 10% of the 283 community clubs have to put in a request. WalesOnline has been told that this has been met but a formal letter has not been sent to the WRU.
But for an EGM to be quorate 90 clubs have to be in attendance.
Here is the full letter sent to all member clubs:
Dear Club Secretary,
We are writing to you following recent correspondence circulated by the Central Glamorgan Rugby Union, an associate member of the WRU, and subsequent discussions within WRU District D.
We understand that these letters have now reached all of our other clubs across Wales and that meetings are being scheduled to consider the proposals.
We hope that you will find this letter helpful as background to the process being called for and to our position.
The Welsh Rugby Union respects all the rights of our member clubs under our constitution.
The new governance structure agreed in 2023 exists to ensure fairness, transparency and stability. There are a number of routes that members have to raise concerns.
The most obvious one is to raise the concerns with the four elected members of Council which are on the Board or directly with one of us, the President, Chair or CEO.
Raising concerns via an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) is an irresponsible first nuclear option which will cause significant damage to Welsh rugby.
It exists as an option but we would suggest only as a last resort, if all other routes have been exhausted.
The first time the WRU has seen the collective six recommendations in the letter canvasing support sent by Central Glamorgan Rugby Union was when some Board members had sight of the letter as it went out to our Clubs.
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.
For clarity, as of today, we have not received any formal requisition that would trigger an EGM under our Articles of Association.
Our position and why this matters
Welsh rugby is at a critical moment. After decades of structural challenges and problems, the new Board has, in just two years:
· Turned the finances around and brought transparency to these – earnings (EBITDA) in the year to 30 June 2025 increased to £32.8m – all of which is reinvested back into rugby in Wales.
· Carried out the largest consultation in Welsh rugby history and published a plan for professional and elite rugby at the end of October 2025. That plan was backed unanimously by the Board and reflects what you, our clubs, told us should be the top priorities: investment in pathways, academies and coaching enabling a return to winning performance at all levels of the game. We cannot afford to delay the implementation.
· Committed an additional £28 million over five years into five essential pillars:
· Men’s Development: A national academy, regional training centres, twelve player development centres all over Wales and age-grade pathways to rebuild performance from the grassroots to the national team.
· Women’s Game: Investment across the fastest-growing part of the global game, including a women’s national academy, three player development centres and nine satellite centres all over Wales and a new professional competition.
· Talent and Insights Unit: A world-class team to track and nurture Welsh talent inside and outside Wales, addressing player retention, player development on and off the pitch and strengthening our future Welsh stars wherever they come from.
· Coaching Investment: Raising standards to world-class levels across all tiers of the game.
· Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC): Investing even more in our new and innovative semi-professional tier to bridge the gap between community and elite rugby.
These pillars are not optional. They are the foundation for a sustainable future for Welsh rugby – balanced across community, professional and international rugby.
Delay and uncertainty will damage our ability to prepare for major tournaments including the Guinness Six Nations, the new Nations Championship and the upcoming Rugby World Cups.
At this year’s AGM we were able to share with you the significant financial progress which gives us options to invest going forward in all aspects of the game.
We have also recruited two new Welsh head coaches in Steve Tandy and Sean Lynn and provided them with the resources and talent to make a real difference to performance.
Why the proposed motions would seriously harm Welsh Rugby
- They would halt the professional game restructuring creating prolonged uncertainty for players, staff, volunteers, sponsors, supporters and community rugby all over Wales.
- They would undermine governance stability risking the loss of new banking facilities, financial support from grant makers and money from sponsors and business partners. These agreements have been based on trust and relationships forged at senior levels over the past two years.
- They would delay investment in pathways and academies, which everyone has agreed were urgent and essential.
This is not the moment to gamble with Welsh rugby’s future. We have turned a financial and governance corner in the past two years. Independent experts have confirmed our significant progress.
Our commercial partners and banks are backing us with the new professional stability and credibility is essential to their continued support.
Annual accounts
One point that has been raised with us has been the late publication of the Annual Report and Accounts in November 2025.
We apologised for this at the AGM and we have arranged two briefing sessions for all clubs on these so if you have reviewed them and have questions please attend one of these or we are happy to answer your questions individually if you email us.
These sessions are booked for 17.15hrs on the 19th January and midday on 21st January 2026.
As we have explained, the delay was due to needing to satisfy our auditors on various issues that were happening (some simultaneously with) as the accounts were being finalised.
These included the financial commitments we were making as a part of the consultation, significant new deals on our rooftop attraction and our catering partner, the recovery of regional debts and our overall debt restructuring.
Throughout the year, we have been providing regular financial updates to member clubs and districts, and we hope this shows you a much more active and transparent approach than you have had historically.
A Call for Unity
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.
We ask all stakeholders to work with us, not against us and each other. In the consultation, everyone agreed change was necessary. Positive change is challenging, but it is essential for the long-term health of Welsh rugby.
We have a plan. It was shaped by you. It is published. Let’s deliver it together.
Thank you for everything you do for Welsh rugby.
Yours sincerely,
Terry Cobner Richard Collier-Keywood Abi TierneyPresident Independent Chair Chief ExecutiveWelsh Rugby Union Welsh Rugby Union Welsh Rugby Union
