Welsh rugby faces more drama on the eve of the Six Nations, with an extraordinary general meeting now on the cards
15:57, 06 Jan 2026Updated 16:41, 06 Jan 2026
Welsh Rugby Union Chairman Richard Collier-Keywood addresses delegates at the AGM(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
The Welsh Rugby Union is set to face a shock extraordinary general meeting, with strong indications enough clubs have now expressed a desire to trigger the process.
The Central Glamorgan Rugby Union, which represents clubs in Neath, Port Talbot, Maesteg and Bridgend and is one of nine districts that help make up the WRU, recently sent out a letter to all clubs urging them to call an EGM. Many within the game are dismayed at the WRU’s plans to reduce the number of professional clubs from four to three, claiming it has damaged Welsh rugby’s reputation.
For an EGM to be called 10% of the 283 community clubs have to put in a request. WalesOnline has been told that this has been met. Central Glamorgan set up an email for clubs to respond and will now forward it onto the WRU.
Once the WRU board receives the request it must call the EGM within 21 days, where the clubs will vote on three motions.
The first motion is a vote of no confidence in WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood and Professional Rugby Board chair Malcolm Wall. This needs a share of 50.1% of the votes to pass.
The second motion wants the WRU to hold elections for the four elected WRU council member board positions within 14 days after the EGM which again requires 50.1% of the votes to pass.
And the third motion wants to amend how the WRU district and council members are elected, but unlike the first two motions this requires a 75% share of the vote.
According to a letter from the Central Glamorgan Rugby Union, it has put forward alternative plans for the game in Wales.
These include:
- Put an immediate hold on the plans to amend the structure of the Professional game, with a full review of WRU finances and organization structure to be undertaken to identify where money can be saved(Executive/Board Salaries, Consultants) to fully support the Professional, SRC and Community Game in Wales.
- A Rugby Steering group to be set up within six weeks comprising of people from the Professional, SRC and Community Game, along with the business sector. This group (Male & Female) will be directed to advise on rugby-related matters and thus negates the need for expensive consultants.
- A Central National Academy to be set up within three months to be totally responsible for the identification and development of talent for male and female players.
- Except for the WRU CEO, WRU Chairperson and Professional Rugby Board Chairperson, no Directors (INED’s, WRU Council Members) should be paid.
- The new appointed WRU chairperson and PRB chairperson should be immersed in Welsh culture and have a strong understanding of Welsh rugby and values and ideally be conversant in the Welsh language and live in Wales.
If the motions in the EGM pass then the future of Welsh rugby will be thrown into even more doubt.
Collier-Keywood was appointed as chair in July 2023 along with a new-look board.
But the Central Glamorgan Rugby Union believes change hasn’t been sufficient and has consequently made its move. It said in a letter to clubs, it said: “This new structure of leadership within the WRU has been in place for more than two years.
“While we acknowledge that the situation on the back of Covid has been challenging, we’re deeply concerned the current leadership have not been able to formulate and commence the delivery of a plan that sets our game in Wales on the right track to support the professional, SRC [Super Rygbi Cymru], female and community game.
“Instead, we see the meandering between different versions of a plan, causing chaos, confusion and uncertainty, spending extortionate amounts of money on external consultants, combined with the current board’s inability to define and deliver a clear strategy for rugby in Wales.
“This is causing reputational damage to Welsh rugby across the world when we were once held in such high esteem.”
It remains to be seen how strong the feeling is among clubs when the EGM is called. At the WRU’s recent annual general meeting, not a single club challenged the executive on its plans for the professional game.
“The Welsh Rugby Union has a clear governance process in place for these sorts of matters, as set out in our constitution, and we will continue to engage fully with our member clubs to follow that process,” said WRU chief executive Abi Tierney on Sunday.
“At this point, we have not received any formal trigger required to call an extraordinary general meeting under our articles of association.
“We published our plans for the future of the elite game in Wales at the end of October 2025, following an extensive consultation process.
“We are now focused on rolling out that plan and are working with key stakeholders to agree a consensus on the implementation.
“Detailed work is underway with the professional clubs, the United Rugby Championship and player representatives, and we remain committed to reaching consensus on the next steps in the coming weeks.
“We ask all stakeholders to work with us. We recognise that change is challenging, but it is essential for the long-term health of the game in Wales.”