- The Welsh Rugby Union is strongly considering cutting one of its four teams
- It has said moving forward there will be a two-tiered funding model
- Cardiff and Dragons have signed a new agreement; Scarlets and Ospreys haven’t
The Welsh Rugby Union is strongly considering cutting one of its four professional teams and has confirmed its intention to have a two-tiered funding model.
Relations between the WRU and club sides Scarlets and Ospreys are now tense after they refused to sign up to the Welsh game’s new Professional Rugby Agreement – the process by which rugby in the country will be run moving forward.
The Scarlets and Ospreys didn’t sign by the deadline given because they have concerns that the WRU’s ownership of Cardiff will lead to them receiving more central funding.
Cardiff and the Newport-based Dragons have signed the PRA.
Had all four clubs put pen to paper, they would have worked off central budgets of £6.5million each from next season and beyond.
Now, however, uncertainty reigns.
The Welsh Rugby Union is strongly considering cutting one of its four professional teams
Wales going from four to three professional teams is something that is strongly under consideration.
Such a move would represent the biggest change in the Welsh game since the dawn of regional rugby in 2003.
‘The WRU’s preference from the outset was to maintain four professional clubs on equal funding,’ the WRU said in a statement.
‘However, agreement on the new PRA could not be reached with two of the professional clubs. This is not a decision that was taken lightly.
‘However given the WRU’s duties to the game in Wales as a whole, the broader performance, financial and strategic needs of the game must take precedence.
‘The WRU will work closely with all four professional clubs to agree the way forward beyond June 2027, with an open mind to all constructive and realistic proposals.
‘That said, given the seismic changes in the rugby landscape since we first started negotiating the PRA, the system will not return to the model of four evenly funded clubs.’
Cardiff are now owned by the WRU during what is a period of uncertainty in the Welsh game
Given Cardiff – who were taken over by the WRU after they entered administration – and Dragons have signed the PRA, it looks likely they will receive more funding that the other two moving forward, although that is not confirmed negotiations are ongoing.
Should the WRU decide to cut a team, it would not be a simple process.
For starters, Welsh rugby’s governing body is contractually committed to providing four sides to the United Rugby Championship and European rugby competitions.
‘We are continuing to talk to all four clubs about what the future will hold,’ said WRU chief executive Abi Tierney.
‘We recognise this will be a time of uncertainty and are committed to treating all the clubs, players and supporters with respect and fairness throughout this process.
‘We acknowledge the continued commitment of each club to Welsh rugby and will formulate a new plan with the best interests of the whole game in Wales at the forefront of our thinking.
‘When I announced the headline strategy back in July 2024, I said one thing is for certain, given the challenges facing rugby in Wales and globally, there will be times when we need to adjust our course. We must seize this opportunity.
‘Our continued aim is to build a resilient and world-class structure that will support Welsh rugby’s next generation and beyond.’
