Welsh Rugby Union: No Anglo-Welsh talks as chairman commits to United Rugby Championship

Richard Collier-Keywood replaced Ieuan Evans as the Welsh Rugby Union chairman in 2023

Welsh Rugby Union chairman Richard Collier-Keywood says there have been no formal discussions about an Anglo-Welsh or British and Irish League.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland backed an Anglo-Welsh concept after recent large crowds turned out at Cardiff for games against English opposition in the Investec Champions Cup.

Former Wales and British Lions captain Sam Warburton, who is also on the Cardiff board, wrote in a newspaper column that tentative conversations about a new league had taken place.

When asked about whether negotiations had occurred, Collier-Keywood said: "None that I have been involved in or am aware of. Our position is we are committed to the United Rugby Championship (URC).

"There are dates we are committed to and we will have a good look at what the future options are.

"It is not straight forward to switch and we're doing our best to make sure the URC is commercially attractive. The URC is in place and England have their own commitments.

"But I agree with Warren that Anglo-Welsh games get the blood running, are great spectacles and likely to attract larger crowds.

"Those matches are often the most exciting, have the most emotions attached and we would love more of them."

Gatland also indicated Wales' 25-cap rule might also be looked at with the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) making that decision.

Those players leaving Wales for teams outside the country are required to have played 25 internationals to continue to represent the national side.

"It's on the table like everything is," said Collier-Keywood.

"Don't take that as we are going to change but we are going to review it, like everything else.

"It is important to try and keep the best players in Wales and we will work with the regions to make sure that happens."

Shrinking budgets

The four Welsh regions are set for a reduction in budgets to £4.5m next season.

"We agree £4.5m is low and would love to see it higher," he said.

"It's difficult to operate a squad cap of that which is where we are headed to next year. We are working on more money being channelled into the regional game."

The WRU have consistently said they are committed to keeping four regions. When asked whether going to three sides because of finances and player pool was a possibility, Collier-Keywood added: "We are looking at all those things before we come to a determination about what the right number is.

"It is not just about having four teams, it is about having four teams that can be competitive, that you want to go and see because you are winning.

"That is all on the table for us to have a discussion, including with Warren to get his views.

"It's important to involve the national coach who we think is the best in the world. We want to make use of that, not just for Wales' elite teams but how the Welsh rugby set-up is structured."

Collier-Keywood, who says the WRU are prepared to make tough decisions, stated the WRU were "in conversation" with the Welsh Government about the £20m Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) it negotiated to save regions from bankruptcy during the pandemic.

The WRU initially renegotiated the loan terms and regions would repay over 20 years, rather than five, but those terms were altered again with payments expected by 2029.

The interest rate is higher than similar loans by clubs in England, Scotland and Ireland with the Welsh sides having the burden of repaying the loan at 8.25%.

The Welsh government said the WRU loan was taken at a variable rate of interest, rather than a fixed rate, so repayments are based on the Bank of England's base rate, which will fluctuate. They have stated they will not offer different terms.

"The regions are paying back £1m a year in relation to those loans alone," said Collier-Keywood.

"If you add the repayment schedule on the loans, that's another £1m. We are working closely with the regions to see if there is a way we can support them more.

"We are in conversation with the Welsh Government. I briefed the deputy sports minister on the Rafferty Report recommendations but also put on the table we would like some support if they could provide it (with the loan).

"They've put their position out there but we have to raise that issue because it is taking money out of Welsh rugby.

"Equally we appreciate the Welsh Government support we've had during Covid. They provided more than £13m of grants to rugby which got distributed to the regional clubs.

"This situation is not because of mismanagement or current issues, it's because of Covid problems."

Transparency

The WRU has published the first of quarterly reports on how they are progressing with recommendations of an independent review in November 2023 and they say they are making "significant progress" with the implementation.

The report found aspects of the WRU's culture were sexist, misogynistic, racist and homophobic and not properly challenged.

It was commissioned following a BBC Wales investigates programme that raised serious allegations against the governing body in January.

The independent review's chair, Dame Anne Rafferty, has been confirmed as the head of a new external oversight group in place for three years to consult on progress on how the WRU are implementing the 36 recommendations. An overall strategy has been promised in the first half of 2024.

"We are making ourselves publicly accountable for completing the recommendations made by the independent review at pace," said Collier-Keywood.

"These recommendations are a blueprint for WRU reform and we are serious about implementing them in a timely manner.

"We are working hard on a plan and will be consulting widely before committing to publishing a new 'One Wales' strategy for the game by June 2024."

Collier-Keywood insists the WRU is in a better position than 12 months ago with a new-look board assembled since March 2023.

"It'll be night and day in some areas compared to where we were," he said.

"We have made governance changes and that's made a massive difference with the new board.

"We have Abi (Tierney) arriving as chief executive last week and she'll make a massive difference with the team she is building."