WELSH Rugby Union chiefs admitted the governing body still has a long way to go after an independent review unveiled a “toxic” culture of bullying and misogyny.

The Senedd’s culture committee scrutinised representatives of the WRU, which has been rocked by allegations of sexism, racism and homophobia over the past year.

Labour’s Hannah Blythyn pressed the witnesses about the women’s team being given a three-hour ultimatum in contract talks, asking if this is how the WRU treats employees.

Richard Collier-Keywood, chair of the WRU since July 2023, told the committee he and Abi Tierney, the chief executive, have since apologised to the players for serious failings.

He said: “That was not something that should have happened … we absolutely should not have given the players a three-hour ultimatum to sign the contracts … it’s certainly not the practice which I want to see in the WRU.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “You’ve made it clear that you believe you have taken significant steps in terms of changing attitudes towards cultural issues.

“Given that everybody’s eyes were on you … and in particular your attitude towards women within the organisation, do you feel you need to reassess how far forward you believe you have come as a union in light of the failings?”

Mr Collier-Keywood replied: “Yeah, I think we’ve definitely reflected on that and I don’t think we were fooling ourselves up to that point either … we recognise we have a long way to go.”

He explained that two board members led an in-depth review of the contract negotiation process, with their report expected to be published in full in the coming weeks.

Criticising “misreporting” of the review’s conclusions by the Daily Telegraph, he said: “There were many failures … but they were not to do with sex discrimination.”

Ms Tierney told the committee: “Everybody went in with the best intentions but … tensions and frustrations arose during the process.”

Mr Collier-Keywood explained the findings emerging from the review: “I don’t think that we as the WRU set out a clear process such that everybody brought in ….

“We were not clear of the roles of individuals in that process, both from a WRU perspective nor, in particular, the people who the players thought would be representing them.”

He added: “We had not fully appreciated the fact that we were dealing with a situation where we had players who were in a high-performance environment but they were also contracted to the WRU as employees.”

Mr Collier-Keywood pointed out that men are contracted to the regions, saying: “We weren’t treating the women as employees to the full extent of that term. That was confusing and difficult and we were not fulfilling our obligations towards the women.”

Delyth Jewell, who chairs the Senedd’s culture committee, questioned progress against recommendations made by Anne Rafferty’s 2023 independent review.

Ms Tierney accepted the WRU had not lived up to the standards expected as she stressed: “Transformational change is hard. I would say colleagues are really feeling that at the moment and it will take time for things to feel better, I think.”

Mr Collier-Keywood added: “Years of previous culture does take time to change and yes we’re impatient to do that but we’re also realistic in terms of not claiming false dawns.”

Asked about a £7.5m loss in latest accounts, Mr Collier-Keywood told Senedd members the WRU is on track to take £5m out of its cost base in the current year.

“We both now believe our finances are more sustainable,” he said, explaining that the WRU made a £24m profit but drew on reserves to allocate £31m to rugby.

Pressed about the impact on participation, Ms Tierney told the committee meeting on November 27 she is saddened that concerns around culture may deter women and girls

But she stressed: “I think it would be unfair for me to sit here and say we won’t ever have any more headlines again because I think culture is a journey.

“It’s how we respond to those headlines that is so important.”

Ms Blythyn, a former minister who was previously responsible for fair work in Wales, did not envy the chief executive’s task of having to turn the WRU around.

She said: “We’ve heard of the glass ceiling but there’s a glass cliff – a tendency for women to come in at a point where an organisation or institution is at the precipice.”

THE Pembrokeshire First Division football season is delivering thrilling competition, with teams jostling for glory at the top and survival at the bottom of the table.

Goodwick United lead the charge

At the summit, Goodwick United FC are the standout performers, sitting in first place with 34 points from 12 games. With an astonishing goal difference of +53, they boast a rock-solid defense and an attack that has overwhelmed opponents all season. Goodwick have firmly established themselves as the team to beat.

Hakin United keep pace

Hot on their heels are Hakin United FC, occupying second place with 30 points from 12 games. Their impressive 4-1 away victory over Monkton Swifts showcased their attacking prowess and underlined their title credentials. With a goal difference of +42, Hakin remain a formidable challenger in the race for the championship.

Mid-table contenders

Clarbeston Road AFC First XI hold third place with 23 points, enjoying a solid campaign despite being some distance from the top two. Meanwhile, Tenby AFC 1st’s sit fourth with 20 points, showing flashes of potential but struggling for the consistency needed to challenge for higher honors.

The mid-table battle sees Merlins Bridge FC in fifth place with 16 points, closely followed by Pennar Robins AFC on 15. Both sides have shown resilience but lack the form required to mount a significant challenge or break into the top tier.

Lower-table struggles

Further down, Kilgetty AFC (13 points) and Milford United AFC (12 points) are locked in a close contest. Both teams have experienced mixed fortunes and will be aiming to pull clear of the lower half as the season progresses.

Relegation fight tightens

The relegation zone paints a bleak picture for some. Monkton Swifts FC and Carew AFC, with 11 and 10 points respectively, are perilously close to danger. Recent poor form has added to their woes, leaving them in need of urgent improvement to avoid the drop.

Propping up the table are St Ishmaels AFC and Herbrandston AFC, who are enduring torrid campaigns. St Ishmaels hover just above last place, while Herbrandston remain rooted to the bottom with 0 points from 13 games and a staggering goal difference of -97. Their defensive frailties and inability to score have left them adrift as they search desperately for their first points.

Excitement builds as season unfolds

As the season heads into its latter stages, the battle for the title between Goodwick United and Hakin United promises to go down to the wire. At the other end, the fight for survival is set to deliver drama, with every point now vital for teams teetering on the brink. The Pembrokeshire First Division continues to live up to its reputation for intense, competitive football.

THE WELSH RUGBY UNION has reported a £7.5m loss for the financial year ending June 2024, despite strong revenues from high-profile events at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, including concerts by Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen.

The WRU’s turnover climbed to £102.7m, marking a second consecutive year of growth. This included a £4.7m boost from matches and stadium-hosted events. However, rising costs—driven by lingering Covid-19 impacts, inflation, and significant spending on the men’s Rugby World Cup and women’s rugby—pushed total expenses to £75.1m, up from £67m the previous year.

Revenue grows, challenges persist

Although Wales missed hosting autumn internationals in 2023 due to the Rugby World Cup, the summer calendar included friendlies, a match against the Barbarians, and live performances from global music stars such as Pink and the Foo Fighters. The Principality Stadium also marked its 25th anniversary in June with a series of celebrations.

Despite the increased turnover, the WRU recorded its second successive annual loss, following a £4.8m deficit in 2023. This reverses a positive £3m profit posted in 2022.

Off-field turmoil adds pressure

The union has faced criticism off the pitch, admitting to “serious failings” in managing contract negotiations with the women’s national team over the summer. On the pitch, the men’s team, coached by Warren Gatland, is enduring a record-breaking 12-game losing streak. In addition, women’s head coach Ioan Cunningham stepped down earlier this month.

Regional funding also saw a drop, falling from £35.5m to £28.7m, and the Dragons rugby team returned to private ownership in July 2023. Despite this, the WRU highlighted its investment of £60m into rugby across Wales, supporting development at all levels of the game.

Eyes on stability and sustainability

Chief executive Abi Tierney, who took over in January, presented the WRU’s annual report during a general meeting on Sunday in the Vale of Glamorgan. Tierney acknowledged the financial hurdles but reaffirmed the union’s focus on building a stable and sustainable future for Welsh rugby.

“This year’s annual report comes at a time of challenges but also great potential,” Tierney said. “Financial stability remains central to our strategy, ensuring we can reinvest in the game and support its growth across all levels.”

While the WRU faces a tough financial landscape, it remains committed to navigating these challenges and backing the sport’s development.