Regions agreement key next step for WRU in 2025

Chief executive Abi Tierney says the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) priority in 2025 is reaching a fresh agreement with all four of Wales' professional regions.

In a New Year's message Tierney also said the Union was "hugely optimistic about forging a new way ahead" in the community game.

With a new women's lead and head coach due to be appointed, she spoke about excitement for the female game in Wales - and the challenges for the men's side under Warren Gatland.

Tierney, speaking exactly a year since taking the role, said all elements of the WRU's 'One Wales' strategy are agreed and being executed, while a deal with Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets "one final and vital piece of the jigsaw".

"Our professional game is such a key part of our strategic plan that we need to ensure we have our new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) before we can make the next move on some important elements," said the Union CEO.

"For absolute clarity this means a new deal with all four current regional clubs which will increase finances and other supporting factors to levels which will enable continued success and sustainability long into the future and by 2029."

Wales four professional regions have struggled to compete in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and European competitions in recent seasons.

A difficult financial climate has seen squad sizes diminish after the budget for the 2024-25 season dropped from £5.2m to £4.5m.

And with the national team in the grip of their worst ever run of defeats, some pundits, including former Wales centre Jonathan Davies, called for the number of regions to be cut.

However Tierney insists the WRU remains committed to maintaining four professional teams.

"This decision to sustain four regional clubs and not reduce in number divides opinion in Wales," she admitted.

"Many I have spoken to are supportive and are excited to see what the increased collaboration and investment will bring for Welsh rugby. There are equally those who say that either, objectively, the right decision has not been made or that we have lacked decisiveness in general.

"We have made our decision with full grasp of the facts at play, all the research that has gone before and with the best 'bird's eye' view of what may lie ahead. "

The WRU has also endured difficult times over the last couple of years with allegations of sexism; strike threats, contract rows and poor performances for the national teams; and fears for the community game.

On her appointment 12 months ago Tierney promised a focus on a new Welsh rugby strategy, saying that would be delivered by the end of the first half of 2024.

What followed by the end of June was a bullet-point wishlist, with exact details now due to follow at some point during 2025.

Tierney says it will be another four years until progress can be judged but has already highlighted the new second-tier Super Rygbi Cymru, women's Celtic Challenge and the National Leagues as areas of success in the current season, along with a drive to get more girls playing the game.

A consultation process will also begin in the new year over funding to member clubs.

The last 12 months was statistically the worst in the143-year international rugby history of the men's national team which slumped to a record 12 successive Test defeats.

After a review into the autumn series, Warren Gatland will remain in charge for the Six Nations.

But Women's head coach Ioan Cunningham, along with the WRU's executive director of rugby Nigel Walker, did step down after a row over contracts and a year in which they won only four from 11 Tests but did qualify for the World Cup with victory in a play-off against Spain.

A first-ever head of women's rugby has been promised, while Gloucester-Hartpury's Sean Lynn is among the favourites for an imminent head coach announcement.

Tierney said the WRU was targeting a record crowd for a home Wales women's international against England in March.

She also spoke of a "determined and galvanised" Warren Gatland and his team.

But warned: "In a British & Irish Lions tour year it is of course all the more important to not look too far ahead and the laser focus will be on getting preparations right for that first round match in France."