Richard Collier-Keywood told the Senedd that Y11's proposed ownership of Cardiff does not automatically mean the Ospreys will be removed, and he pledged a fair process to decide the single west licence while confronting an imminent EGM and suggested successors.
The Welsh Rugby Union has plunged into turmoil after revealing plans to shrink its professional regional map from four teams to three. The proposal has provoked fierce pushback from clubs, politicians and supporters, prompting threats of legal action and the calling of an extraordinary general meeting.
At a Senedd hearing, WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood defended the union’s approach but stopped short of definitive decisions. He told the Culture, Communications and Welsh Language Committee that although Cardiff has long been linked to the so‑called capital licence, no firm changes have been approved and any move would have to follow a formal licensing process.
Collier‑Keywood also stressed that Y11 Sports & Media’s potential ownership of two United Rugby Championship clubs does not automatically decide which region, if any, would drop to semi‑professional status. Licensing criteria remain to be drawn up and the award process will be open to scrutiny and challenge.
A key focus of the hearing was Y11’s growing influence and what that might mean for the Ospreys and other regions. The WRU says it intends to run a transparent award procedure that complies with competition law and that licences could include conditions about where regional matches are staged. But Collier‑Keywood warned that legal challenges or objections from stakeholders could delay the timetable for awarding what he described as the west licence.
Financial and governance case
The board frames the consolidation as a blunt but pragmatic effort to stabilise Welsh rugby. Collier‑Keywood and independent director Alison Thorne argued that four fully professional teams are struggling to compete and that concentrating resources on three could improve United Rugby Championship performance while protecting the national academy and coaching pathways.
To support that strategy, the WRU has negotiated a refinancing package with HSBC and Goldman Sachs that would free up £60m of investment over three years. The board says due diligence and compliance checks informed the decision and insists academy funding and coaching jobs will be safeguarded.
Yet cash alone won’t cure everything. Experience across sport shows that injections of capital must be matched by strict cost control, smarter recruitment and clear performance targets if they are to yield better results. And until licence criteria and the award mechanism are published, clubs cannot plan with any real certainty about their operational or financial futures.
Fractures with clubs and sponsors
The hearing also exposed strained relationships between the WRU, the regions and commercial partners. Thorne acknowledged that sponsor interest has cooled and conceded reputational damage from recent disputes and intense media scrutiny. The union has promised governance reforms, pledging to tie them to measurable performance indicators and clearer external reporting as it tries to rebuild trust.
EGM, legal fights and political heat
Tensions spilled over when Central Glamorgan Rugby Union lodged an extraordinary general meeting with three principal motions: a vote of no confidence in Collier‑Keywood and Professional Rugby Board chair Malcolm Wall; an urgent demand for elections to fill four council seats within 14 days; and a change to the method for selecting district and council members — a change that would require a 75% majority to pass.
The WRU has pointed to section 36 of its articles of association, arguing that some amendments can only be initiated by the board. That line sets the stage for a likely legal battle over what members can force through at an EGM. Meanwhile, club delegates and district bodies have vented their frustration, warning that sudden leadership turnover could unsettle sponsors and commercial partners.
Possible interim leaders being mentioned include former first minister Carwyn Jones, ex‑WRU chair Gareth Davies, independent director Andrew Williams, Alison Thorne and entrepreneur Hayley Parsons — the latter urging clubs to proceed with the EGM. Whether any of those figures would accept a temporary chairmanship remains unclear.
At a Senedd hearing, WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood defended the union’s approach but stopped short of definitive decisions. He told the Culture, Communications and Welsh Language Committee that although Cardiff has long been linked to the so‑called capital licence, no firm changes have been approved and any move would have to follow a formal licensing process. Collier‑Keywood also stressed that Y11 Sports & Media’s potential ownership of two United Rugby Championship clubs does not automatically decide which region, if any, would drop to semi‑professional status. Licensing criteria remain to be drawn up and the award process will be open to scrutiny and challenge.0
