Hale hopes to have seen last WRU apology

Cerys Hale was capped 49 times by Wales before retiring in July 2024

Former prop Cerys Hale hopes her ex-Wales team-mates have received their last apology from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) after being "let down" again by the governing body.

WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood and chief executive Abi Tierney pledged an apology for the way contract negotiations were conducted with the national women's squad.

In an email, seen by the BBC, players were threatened with withdrawal from WXV2 and, subsequently, next year’s World Cup as talks broke down.

They were issued with a "final offer" ultimatum on 2 August, saying if they did not sign within a three-hour deadline, planned matches against New Zealand, Scotland and Australia would not go ahead and the contracts would be withdrawn.

The new claims of sexism and inequality came less than a year after a damning independent review into the WRU's culture following a BBC Wales investigation.

Hale said she was surprised by the latest revelations, saying "fundamentally, the players have been let down.

But she accepts "the union have made strides to making things better".

Hale also acknowledged the governing body reacted "swiftly" to say sorry on this occasion, telling BBC Sport Wales: "It is frustrating to see them say that they have another apology to issue so hopefully it'll be the last."

As Hale retired in July 2024, her erstwhile team-mates were involved in the contract negotiations that sparked the recent revelations.

"I speak to a number of the players, I was aware they were having a bit of a stressful time and probably struggling a bit emotionally as a result," she said.

"It's been a difficult time for them and I think they had closed that chapter going into WXV and they had sorted out their contracts, but obviously it probably wasn't all done the right way."

A review of the negotiation process is expected to publish its recommendations later this month.

The WRU was forced to bring forward publication of the review's findings following a report in the Telegraph last Thursday.

However, it has already revealed that the report found:

• The WRU process for contracts failed to take into account the growth and rapid change of the women’s professional game

• The WRU executive leadership accepted it was a mistake to issue a three-hour deadline

• Strongly differing views on how to develop women’s rugby in Wales

• Players were inexperienced at contract talks but were left isolated

• Players considered strike action before the friendly against Scotland on 6 September

• A lack of clear communication or transparency around the contract talks which created heightened emotions, made worse by poor behaviour from all parties at different stages

• Sexism was not part of the motivation behind any failings

Hale now hopes Wales' current and future players can enjoy the fruits of recent struggles.

"We're in a different position to potentially male players who have had experience of negotiating contracts for their whole careers, whereas it was a new thing for us," she said.

"So when we first got contracts we were really happy, but then we really wanted it to be this process, to be, hopefully [one in which] we can embed some things that will be the baseline for our contracts moving forward, so then the next generation don't have to fight for things like the maternity policy, etc."

'Resilient bunch of players'

After a disappointing year in which Wales struggled in the 2024 Six Nations and dropped into WXV2, Hale hopes they can bounce back for the 2025 Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup.

"Because there are so many external factors that probably impact them negatively, their togetherness as a group is second to none," said Hale.

"I really do believe that they are a resilient bunch of players and I think that will only aid them moving forward. It was great to see the WRU said that they wanted to apologise to the players, and they recognised those kind of things.

"So hopefully, once that process is done they can really come together and move on and really see a change in results and performances."

Minister seeks player meeting

The Welsh Government minister responsible for sport met WRU officials on Monday.

Jack Sargeant, who said he was "disappointed" to see Welsh rugby in the headlines "for the all the wrong reasons" met with Collier-Keywood, Tierney and the executive director of Welsh rugby, Nigel Walker.

He now wants to meet the players so he can “understand directly” the nature of their concerns.

"Over coming days, I will be seeking to understand various perspectives on this process and to satisfy myself that lessons are being learned," Sargeant said.