News

WRU unveils radical plan to halve professional teams in Wales

Published

4 months ago

August 20, 2025

Union launches consultation on two-club model with new national campus and funding shake-up

THE WELSH RUGBY UNION has gone public with a bold plan to slash the number of professional teams in Wales from four to two, in what it describes as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reshape the game.

At a press conference held at the Principality Stadium on Wednesday (Aug 20), WRU leaders set out their vision for the future of Welsh rugby, unveiling proposals to merge the professional structure into just two clubs — each running a men’s and a women’s team — backed by a new national performance campus and a radically altered funding model.

Chief executive Abi Tierney said: “We know how emotional rugby is and that people will be hurting when thinking about what this could mean for their team. Not everyone is going to be happy but I don’t think carrying on as we are is the right thing for fans either. We had to do something radically different to get us to a better place.”

Two-team model

Under the optimal scenario presented, Wales would be left with two fully professional clubs, each running a men’s squad of 50 and a women’s squad of 40. Playing budgets for the men’s teams would be set at between £7.8m and £8m, with a strict focus on developing Welsh-qualified talent. Only four overseas players would be permitted across the two sides.

Director of Rugby and Elite Performance Dave Reddin said the move was designed to put Wales back at the top of the international game. “This is unashamedly about trying to take Welsh rugby back to the top. It’s about designing for elite performance and making talent outperform its capacity,” he said. “Why shouldn’t we believe Wales could be wildcard World Cup winners with the right system?”

Five pillars of reform

The WRU’s restructuring is built around five pillars:

Two professional clubs (one men’s, one women’s at each location) designed to compete at the highest level.
A new national performance campus to centralise training for elite players and staff.
Replacement of the Professional Rugby Agreement with a unified management structure to cut friction and speed up decision-making.
A central funding model, with the WRU paying rugby costs while private investors run clubs commercially under licence.
Major investment in player pathways, including an expanded women’s domestic league, enhanced academies and improved coaching opportunities.

The union confirmed that existing academies will be scrapped and replaced by a single men’s national academy, alongside a new development system for women.

Consultation begins

The consultation period will begin on September 1 and close on September 26, with the WRU engaging Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, the Welsh Rugby Players Association, former and current players, and official supporter groups. An online survey will also open to the wider public.

Chairman Richard Collier-Keywood said: “Every player and fan story starts somewhere. We will be listening to views from grassroots through pathways to elite level. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get this right and create an exciting future for our game.”

A recommendations report will go before the WRU board in mid-October, with a final decision expected at the end of that month.

Ospreys respond

The Ospreys, one of the four current professional clubs, have already issued a statement in response, acknowledging that some of the ideas outlined by the WRU hold “real potential”.

Women’s game overhaul

The plans also include a major expansion of the women’s game, with the two professional women’s teams backed by a national academy, new player development centres, and the creation of a domestic league to strengthen the Celtic Challenge.

Financial shake-up

Perhaps the most radical shift lies in the financial model. The WRU would directly fund all rugby operations in the two professional clubs, while commercial operations would be handled by private owners and investors under licence. The union believes this will improve alignment and stability across the game.

The road ahead

While the two-team model is the WRU’s preferred solution, other scenarios remain under discussion, including a three-team structure or retaining four sides with unequal funding. The union insists no final decision has been made until the consultation is complete.

As Tierney summed up: “This consultation is about listening. Every voice matters. We must work together if we are to create the future Welsh rugby deserves.”

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.

Local Government

Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure

SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.

“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.

Urgent works underway

Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.

Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.

Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.

Further updates are expected later this week.