WRU apologises after reports of sex assault at Principality Stadium

WRU CEO Abi Tierney said the behaviour described in the reports "was not ever, and will not ever, be tolerated"

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has apologised following a report that a female ex-employee was sexually assaulted at the Principality Stadium.

The woman, who has remained anonymous, claims a colleague assaulted her twice including in a cupboard at Wales' home stadium between 2019 and 2021.

WRU CEO Abi Tierney said the behaviour described in an ITV report was "totally unacceptable".

It follows a sexism scandal at the WRU which led to an independent review.

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The review found the organisation's culture was sexist, misogynistic, racist and homophobic and not properly challenged.

Following ITV's report on Tuesday, Ms Tierney said: "It is vitally important for me, on behalf of everyone at the Welsh Rugby Union, to formally apologise directly to the individual involved.

"The behaviour described is totally unacceptable and was not ever, and will not ever, be tolerated."

A woman has said she was sexually assaulted in a cupboard of the Principality Stadium while at work

Ms Tierney admitted the culture at the organisation "did not prevent" the alleged incident from happening, and that some of the WRU's previous HR policies for addressing such incidents were "not right".

"I would like to reiterate the full apology both myself and others have previously offered to anyone who has been affected by issues and challenges highlighted by our recent independent review.

"We continue to encourage people to access our whistleblowing line if they are uncomfortable speaking to their line management about any issues.

"We continue to welcome dialogue with anyone involved or affected by any of the issues raised, so that we can apologise to them and continue to learn and improve."

Ms Tierney said it was the WRU's understanding that the case was one of the ones looked at by the independent review and has "already fed the recommendations for change that we are committed to deliver".