Welsh Rugby Union delay revealing details of cutting professional side

The Welsh Rugby Union has delayed revealing details of how they plan to reduce a professional side.

In April, the WRU confirmed that proposals to go down to three men's professional teams would not happen until 2028 after the deal with Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media to buy Cardiff from Welsh rugby's governing body fell through.

The WRU said it was pushing on with controversial plans to cut from four to three regions and that it would provide details of how it would be achieved by the end of June, with Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and WRU-owned Cardiff waiting for the proposals.

The governing body now says that will be done in the "coming weeks" as it focuses on appointing a new chair to replace the outgoing Richard Collier-Keywood.

It says this recruitment process will be completed over the summer and the new chair will be in post before the next WRU annual general meeting (AGM) in November.

WRU board member John Manders has been promoted to a new temporary vice-chair position and will chair meetings.

"While this process is ongoing, the board and executive team continue to work in earnest on finalising our plans for the men's professional game and safeguarding the future of all of Welsh rugby," said Manders.

"Next steps, including more detail on how and when changes will be made in advance of the 2028 season, will be outlined in the coming weeks."

The WRU holds the licences for the Welsh professional men's sides competing in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and European competitions.

In October 2025 it proposed to cut one of those teams and award three new licences, one in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west.

Ospreys and Scarlets are thought to be the two men's sides most under threat as they battle for the west licence.

If no internal agreement between the WRU and the four professional sides could be reached, the governing body stated it might look at a tender process to decide who would be given the licences.

The WRU has appointed external consultants Gatenby Sanderson, who are described as a specialist executive search firm, to support the chair recruitment process.

Collier-Keywood, the WRU's first independently appointed chair, will step down after completing his three-year term in charge.

"We will run an independent, thorough and detailed recruitment process and will have a new chair in place as soon as possible and in advance of our AGM in the autumn," said Manders.

"I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Richard for the unquestionable commitment he has shown to Welsh rugby over the last three years.

"He has made a hugely positive contribution, bringing financial security to the business and taking the lead on a welcome cultural and structural evolution across the game."

Gatenby Sanderson will also be supporting the recruitment of two independent members of the Professional Rugby Board (PRB), which oversees the professional game on behalf of the WRU and the four clubs.

One of these two new recruits will also be elected chair of PRB by its members, an appointment which in turn commands a place on the WRU Board.

Former PRB chair Malcolm Wall stepped down in March with Marianne Okland taking over on an interim basis.