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Tierney has addressed rumours over the future of the Ospreys and Scarlets(Image: PA)
These are your evening rugby headlines on Friday, August 8.
WRU chief addresses Ospreys-Scarlets rumours
Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney insists no decision has been made over the futures of the Ospreys and Scarlets, after rumours were rife that the union wants a team based in Swansea over Llanelli. The union are about to enter a formal consultation process and could halve the number of professional clubs in Wales, which would likely result in one team based in the east with another in the west.
If this was the case, there would only be room for one of the Ospreys or Scarlets in Welsh rugby’s new structure. But Tierney denies these rumours are true. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
“No definitely not,” she said when asked if the WRU had decided to favour a team based out of Swansea rather than Llanelli. “I was talking to some of our board members about it this morning.
“There’s a number of steps we have to take first because that would presume that we’ve decided what number of clubs we need and we haven’t.
“So, we need to get the structure first and then out of that will come what are the options around the different club functions. But I can absolutely categorically say we haven’t done that.”
Earlier this week Swansea City Council granted planning permission to the Ospreys who plan to redevelop St Helen’s, although it is dependent on the WRU’s plans.
During the Swansea Council meeting, an objection was read out from Scarlets supporters’ trust Crys 16, while three Carmarthenshire politicians have gone on record to oppose the redevelopment of St Helen’s, claiming it would signal bad news for Parc y Scarlets.
But Tierney has rejected accusations that the WRU have given Swansea City Council assurances the Ospreys will survive.
“No, categorically not,” she said when the accusation was put to her.
“We gave support for the development pre the signing of the PRA, or the not signing of the PRA to say that it’s very much caveated as long as the PRA is signed that the funding would be there but we haven’t done anything since.”
Lions bosses hold talks over next tour
New Zealand Rugby chief Mark Robinson has issued a cutting response to suggestions that the British & Irish Lions shouldn’t embark on their scheduled tour of the country in 2029, revealing that “fantastic” talks have already taken place.
Led by Andy Farrell, the Lions claimed victory in their recent Test series against Australia, but the future of the iconic touring team has been subject to much debate in recent weeks and months.
Earlier this week, Times rugby writer Stephen Jones suggested that the traditional cycle of tours to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand should be changed, putting forward France as an alternative destination in four years’ time. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
“Why do they have to plod wearily along the same routes?,” he wrote in his Sunday Times column. “Surely it’s up to the host unions to balance their own books. The Lions have been a charitable institution for way too long.
“They should change. They should not go to New Zealand in 2029, or, at least, they should debate the issue first. I would put France down as a venue for four years; then it could be judged that New Zealand deserve a spot and deserve a visit four years after that.”
However, Robinson has hit back at Jones, explaining that plans for both the men’s tour in 2029 and the inaugural women’s tour in 2027 are well under way, with a meeting held with his Lions counterparts before Farrell’s men played their third and final Test in Sydney.
When Jones’ comments were put to him during an appearance on Newstalk ZB, the New Zealand Rugby CEO said:“Well, Stephen wouldn’t be aware of this, but we had a fantastic meeting in Sydney last week with the Lions in the build-up to the last Test.
“We had a whole day, midweek, and plans are steaming along really well. We’re hugely excited about where things sit there.
“We spent a lot of time talking about the potential schedule, the number of Tests, of non-Tests. They’ve worked towards a joint venture model in more recent tours, with South Africa, which was unfortunately impacted by COVID, and then Australia this year.
“So that’s a new model we’re sort of getting our heads around and understanding more about. So we spent a lot of time on that.”
Robinson added: “The Lions are hugely excited about coming to New Zealand, and we’re looking forward to having them here. Then we spent a lot of time, we’re getting closer to announcing what the format and nature of the Women’s Lions Tour, the inaugural Women’s Lions Tour in 2027, will be.
“That’s going to be super exciting as well. We’re really excited about where we’re landing with that program. So no, Stephen might be a little bit off course there, but that won’t be the first time and probably won’t be the last.”
WRU issue statement on Scarlets investment
The Welsh Rugby Union has issued a statement after the Scarlets secured significant new investment by entering into a partnership with US-based House of Luxury (HOL).
Under the terms of the proposal, HOL’s dedicated sports and entertainment investment division intends to acquire a majority controlling stake of 55 per cent in the club. It has already assumed non-rugby operational leadership in partnership with the existing Scarlets board.
Former Welsh Rugby Union CEO David Moffett heads up HOL’s sports and entertainment division, while others involved in the project include former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar, leading brand strategist Andy Golding and digital sports strategist Leanne Batts.
The club’s new partners will take up current financial liabilities and responsibility for commercial growth and future strategic vision reporting directly to the Scarlets board, while working towards a full equity transaction.
Of course, the partnership comes at a time where the WRU is considering the future structure of the professional game in Wales beyond 2027, and it is hoped that it will bring stability and strategic leadership for the region.
The union has now welcomed the “positive news”, with a statement on Friday reading: “We are pleased to welcome House of Luxury LLC (HOL) into the Welsh rugby family after the positive news today they will be forming a new investment partnership with the Scarlets.
“We continue to work constructively with the Scarlets and all of our professional clubs on the structural review of our professional game we are currently undertaking and remain focused on the formal consultation process which begins shortly.”