Furious fans call the WRU a ‘clown show’ following their alleged ‘bully-boy tactics’ in latest regional rugby crisis

Lawrence Nolan
Ospreys Scarlets WRU

Ospreys and Scarlets players react following the final whistle in Swansea last month

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) have been universally criticised on social media following Sunday’s statement about the Ospreys and Scarlets not signing the new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25) by the deadline that was set.

Accusations on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, have seen the “clown show” WRU described as “manipulative” in their use of “bully-boy tactics” in their management of regional rugby.

Following the missed deadline by Ospreys and Scarlets, the Welsh rugby authorities claimed they will no longer continue to evenly fund the four regions who currently play in the United Rugby Championship, casting the future into uncertainty as only Cardiff and Dragons had agreed to the new PRA25 deal.

A WRU statement read: “It has therefore taken the difficult but necessary decision to issue the formal two-year notice to terminate the current PRA agreement in order, in particular, to proceed with its debt refinancing.

“Dragons RFC and Cardiff Rugby have signed up to the terms of a new agreement (PRA 25), which had been under negotiation since August 2024. The One Wales Strategy was designed to create a more aligned, financially sustainable and competitive future for professional rugby across Wales.

“This is not a decision that was taken lightly…”

“The WRU’s preference from the outset was to maintain four professional clubs (on equal funding) within this framework. Everyone worked hard to achieve that. However, agreement on the new PRA 25 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.

“In practical terms, 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 PRA 2025, the system will not return to the model of four evenly funded clubs.”

Angered by what they learned from the statement, Welsh rugby fans furiously reacted on social media in their responses to the story posted on X by the WRU:

Samantha Jayne: “This is very poor on your part. You’ve blamed Scarlets and Ospreys for not signing but how can you expect them to sign something that they haven’t fully seen or not had assurances on? All they want is transparency and assurances that they will be treated equally to Cardiff!”

Anne Davies: “Do you even understand the meaning of ‘respect and fairness’? You allowed this news to break when all four regions were out of the country. You have disregarded and disrespected the well-being of all players and staff. Shame on you. Time you all moved on for the sake of Welsh rugby.”

Lee Lewis: “The WRU abandoned the valleys, the heartbeat of Welsh rugby, years ago. Alarm bells should have been ringing loud and clear by everyone at that stage. No one wants to watch rugby in Wales now. Public is just sick of it all. Shameful.”

Rhodri Clark: “Every decision just seems to be going from one mistake to another! Surely the board have no confidence in Abi Tierney now? Forcing regions to agree with something they didn’t know the facts about is absolutely ludicrous!”

Liam@Liam0324: “This is a manipulative power play used to force an agenda change despite the fact that you were the organisation adamant that you were keeping four teams less than a few weeks ago. Poor comms, poor decisions and just generally poor operational management.”

Gareth Howells: “Ospreys and Scarlets have seen through your plan to create a super team, so you have bullied them to sign something and because they haven’t you are kicking one out or reducing their funding. Same old WRU.”

Jac Roberts: “Aye that’s it, put the blame on the teams who didn’t sign an agreement not knowing what they were actually agreeing with. I didn’t think it were possible, but you’ve only managed to enhance the WRU’s shambolic reputation, so kudos for that.”

Ben Thomas: “Maybe answering those clubs valid concerns would have been a start. Forget region loyalties here: if the WRU don’t get sorted, there will be nothing to negotiate and plan for and the country will fall further away from the international scene than we already are. Shameful.”

Growler1@growler110: “They don’t believe in four evenly funded clubs which leaves uncertainty. Is this three evenly funded clubs? For me it implies two plus two or three plus one. Two plus two would be the best model for me and it’s up to clubs to attract investment into the game which has been sorely lacking.”

Grumpy Dumpty@grumpy_dumpty1: “:Is this where the Ospreys and Scarlets join the English Premiership?”

Luch JH Davies: “You cannot expect a contract signed when you have changed said contract for one of the partners!”

Gareth Owen: “Can everyone just agree to boycott everything that the WRU is involved in, including regional and international rugby? That way they might realise that without the fans the game doesn’t exist.”

Harry Palmer: “Why didn’t you answer the issues the Ospreys and Scarlets had over the takeover and funding of Cardiff in time for them to feel they could sign? The backing this administration has had from a lot of fans will go out the window now. You are on borrowed time.”

Adam@Adam80611368: “So Scarlets and Ospreys wanted to be treated fairly and to see the whole agreement, which you hadn’t finished yet. But instead you decide to blame them at the end of the season where the Scarlets just qualified for the play-offs, and this will surely take a toll on morale.”

Turf@turfcreative: “The Worst Run Union. Simple as that. While four teams are overseas, the WRU announce this. Been here before with Celtic Warriors many years ago. Thoughts are with friends and former colleagues who will be affected by this. Can’t we just cut the WRU instead?”

Jacob Smith: “You should all be sacked. We need to form a new national governing body because you are not fit for purpose.”

Dewi Joseph: “Can people wake up to the fact that the governance structure is not and hasn’t been for a long time up to the standards necessary to run professional sport. From the top down. Starting with the CEO and almost publicly non-existent chairman, let’s get the right people in.”

Emma Jones: “Shame on you WRU. But you wanted this to happen. You failed to answer the concerns of the Ospreys and Scarlets. Why would any respectful organisation sign something with uncertainties? That’s me done with Welsh Rugby. You are an embarrassment to our game.”

Mike Harvey: “With the new CEO there was so much optimism about an improved relationship between the WRU and the regions. All Ospreys and Scarlets wanted was assurances and you have not given these. This is bullying and so sad to see a national body acting like this.”

Revol@revolmediaz: “The country has no confidence in the board. The chairman and CEO are way out of their depth and achieved nothing other than perpetuating the chaos in their 18 months. Just self-serving failures. Clubs should force and EGM to sack the board and create a new pro game administration.”

Stu@Stuvoxx: “Probably time for me to walk away from this game and anything associated with the WRU. Hub officers redundant with no replacement, now this. The operations and delivery are a clown show.”

Stamford2: “What a shambles. So basically they want Scarlets and Ospreys to merge if they don’t we will have two regions in East Wales.”

Dylan Miles: “You sneaky s****. Now you have got Cardiff under your belts, you have shafted the other three. It’s telling the twi not touched by WRU interference have read the PRA and the alarm bells were ringing. If the Ospreys go, I’ll never support the Welsh team again. It’s France and Bath for me.”

Gareth Storey: “Another poor piece of communication from an inept organisation that continues to demonstrate why it is not fit to be the governing body. Dreadful leadership and continued bullying behaviour towards private businesses which form the supply chain. ‘One Wales’ strategy, yeah right.”

Richard Michael: “Bullying the Ospreys and Scarlets into signing or else just show how this so-called organisation is run. Absolutely appalling and you lot couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery.”

StuHendo96: “The amount of disdain and hatred is towards the union is fantastic. Do the right thing and bin off Cardiff, seeing as their financial failure should not be rewarded. Me and my family and 000s more will gladly take our kids to watch Bristol, Bath or Gloucester!”

David Blackman: “Bully boy tactics by under-qualified blazer boys and failed business people. Just do what your planning and put Welsh rugby in the grave. Don’t drag it out. Disenfranchise another fan base you will never fill that corporate morgue in Cardiff again, it’s just another concert venue.”

READ MORE: Welsh rugby on brink of civil war with one region set to be cut

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