Plight of Welsh union

[Alan Shore]

Despite what others try and deny, things are bad for Union in Wales. I will proceed to post several news items highlighting the fact. Other discussion of Wales can also take place here.

 

[Alan Shore]

Stadium debt still stands at £50m Jul 20 2002




Andy Howell Rugby Correspondent Andy.Howell@Wme.Co.Uk, The Western Mail


WELSH rugby's debt on the Millennium Stadium still stands at more than £50m - just £30,816 down on the previous financial year.

Welsh Rugby Union Group accounts, contained in its annual report which will be presented to the 239 member clubs at today's annual general meeting in Port Talbot, reveal bankers Barclays are owed more than £43m of its original loan of £60m. Accruals took that figure on April 30, 2002, to nearly £51m.

The report by independent auditors Walter Hunter & Co says the amount expected to be repaid between one and two years is about £1.5m, between years two to five £6m and after five years £36m.

Glanmor Griffiths, chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union and its subsidiary Millennium Stadium plc, does not mention the WRU's financial position, which some people believe is serious, in this year's annual report.

But, in his chairman's statement, Griffiths says, "By our own admission, the WRU, like so many other unions, has struggled to come to terms with the full implications of professionalism." A year ago Griffiths told the membership, "The expertise that exists within the WRU organisation is on a par with, if not better than, any other major union in the world."

In a recent statement he emphasised that the WRU and the Millennium Stadium plc are both trading profitably.

But Griffiths added, "Like every other business in Britain, we have to review our costs, improve our revenue streams and find ways to become even more efficient.

"To that end, the WRU general committee has agreed to bring in an additional financial resource to supplement our existing financial department."

He denied it had brought in a financial troubleshooter, declaring, "This is no knee-jerk reaction, nor is it at the behest of any outside organisation, but is a move initiated by the general committee with a view to improving the financial position of both the WRU and the Millennium Stadium.

"This person will be appointed by the WRU and will be directly accountable to the general committee via the union's secretary, Dennis Gethin, and to me as the honorary treasurer.

"These moves have been welcomed by our financial partners, Barclays Bank, who initially loaned us £60m to fund the building of the Millennium Stadium.

"With only two instead of four home games in the Six Nations next season and no autumn internationals in 2003 because of the Rugby World Cup, we have recognised in advance the need to closely examine our finances and create a strategic plan to move our business forward.

"The new appointee, acting in a short-term, consultancy capacity, will play a vital role in this objective."

A spokesman for Barclays Bank had said, "We fully support the initiative taken by the WRU to bring in extra financial support.

"We will do everything possible to ensure that the WRU and the stadium have a bright future.

"Suggestions the bank is sending in some sort of troubleshooter to the union offices are untrue."

 

[Alan Shore]

Bridgend owner Leighton Samuel has come out in favour of the swingeing pay cuts for Wales' international players.
Samuel believes that the large sums of money paid to some of the country's top players had led to a weakening of their club loyalties.

"It may refocus them a bit because there are players who would prefer to put the Wales squad before their club," Samuel said.



It just brings the players back to earth

Bridgend owner Leighton Samuel
"It'll probably make them appreciate where their bread is buttered, if you like."

The basic Wales appearance fee will drop to £1,000 per game, while the Welsh Rugby Union has decided to slash win bonuses from £5,000 to £3,000 and scrap the £75 bonus a player received for each cap won.

"The reduction is a good thing but the players are entitled to that money," Samuel added.

"The deal they had during the Graham Henry days was too generous compared to other Six Nations teams, so it just brings them back to earth."

http://www.scrum.com/news/news.asp?newsid=13656
More trouble ahead for Wales' top clubs
12/Jun/02

Wales' top clubs are set to come under even more financial strain following the news that central funding is to be cut.

The Western Mail reports that the Welsh Rugby Union has told the Premier Division clubs to expect a fraction of their current hand-outs as they desperately try to recoup their losses.

And the WRU now expects the likes of Cardiff, Bridgend, Newport and Pontypridd to drastically tighten their belts in order to survive financially next season.

The WRU are heavily burdened by the Millennium Stadium for which borrowed heavily to build. This fact is heightened when they fail to sell-out for internationals including the Six Nations.

But the biggest blow has come from the inability to find a sponsor for the national league, or the new Celtic League.

One club executive told the newspaper, "We are basically being told to pick up the £200,000 short fall for the failure to attract a sponsor for the Celtic League, pay back the £426,000 excess that the Union, in their wisdom, say they over-paid us during the last three years and bankroll the transfer fee of Iestyn Harris."

 

[Alan Shore]

Bridgend rugby bosses Adrian Hadley and Leighton Samuels will meet with rugby league officials yesterday to discuss the possibility of more cross-code links between the two games.

Bridgend rugby club are known to be keen on developing closer links between the two games, and tapping into the twelve months per year income that would be possible if they were to take up a Super League place.

Hadley claims that if the WRU are to press ahead with plans to reduce the number of clubs to just five, they would have to begin to look elsewhere for income and with the rugby league season now being in the summer, it would be the natural thing to do.

Adrian Hadley, Chief Executive of Bridgend said. "These are tough times and we have to look at becoming a club where we attract people into the ground for twelve months a year.

Two of the Bridgend rugby teams were coached by rugby league coaches on Tuesday night, as the close co-operation between the two codes continued.

Coaches from Warrington Wolves took the under 17 and under 19 teams through rugby skills drills at Porthcawl Comprehensive, school, where the Bridgend rugby Academy is based.

Rugby league players are renowned for their fine handling skills and the coaches from Warrington were able to pass on some hints and tips to the academy hopefuls in the two hour session.

Hadley played for the Salford and Warrington clubs during the 1990's and is known to be fond of the prowess of rugby league players.

He said. "League players, especially the forwards are often more comfortable with the ball. The aim of the session was to give the players something a little different than what they normally are exposed to.

Aberavon rugby club are also known to be developing links with league clubs. Through former player, Mike Nicholas who left Port Talbot in the 1970's the club has developed links with Warrington Wolves the club will enter the summer rugby league conference next year and the Wales international team will train at the athletic grounds on Friday morning.

Bridgend apply for National League Two
Thu Aug 14, 4:01pm (Wales)
Written by: Steven Birchall
An application for a Bridgend based club has been logged to the Rugby Football League for entry in the 2004 National League Two competition. Bridgend, which are currently represented by the Blue Bulls in the Rugby League Conference competition, have enjoyed a significant amount of success both in terms of performance on the field, and local interest, with many games drawing crowds of between 400 and 700 people.

Bridgend have been considering launching a professional or semi-professional side into one of the Rugby League competitions since last year, with the owner of the Bridgend Rugby Union side, Lleyton Samuel, and former League player, and Bridgend chief executive, Adrian Hadley both having a number of meetings with Richard Lewis over a Super League application.

With it unlikely that the RFL will simply let Bridgend into Super League, with the organisation still trying to ensure that it can afford to have UTC in after its renegotiated television rights with both BBC and BSkyB, Bridgend have decided to take the long term view of joining second division and working their way up.

With the success of the Blue Bulls, and also the RFL showing their loyalty by guarantying to host the high profile international between the touring Australian Kangaroos and the Welsh Dragons at Brewery Field, the premier ground in Bridgend, in November this year, Rugby League is finally making some significant ground forward down in the Valleys.

The advantage of Bridgend starting out in National League Two is it now means talented players from the Rugby League Conference can take the next step up to Semi-professional Rugby League whilst not being forced to relocated to the North of England or London.

It also gives the London Skolars who battled long and hard to get an application outside of the ‘traditional heartlands’ a Southern ally, to try and break the mold that League is only a Northern sport.

 

[The Observer]

Tamazoid, cmon these articles are a year old. Yes its true that Welsh RU is in bad shape, but it is getting better. Current CEO David Moffett (ex NRL CEO) is instituting massive reforms such as reducing the number of top fligh pro teams from 9 to 5, just as we did in the NRL by reducing from 22 to 15. Welsh Rugby is already reaping the benefits of this rationalisation. For example, the new Welsh regional teams in Celtic League have beaten Irish provinces in Ireland for the first time in the history of Celtic League competition.

In terms of the financial health of the Union he has been cutting costs e.g. Wales A team, and has put into place measures like a new Welsh Rugby Academy. Most significantly of all, he managed to put into place a new executive board which replaced the board of 239 members! That is a big leap.

 

[Alan Shore]

Tamazoid, cmon these articles are a year old. Yes its true that Welsh RU is in bad shape, but it is getting better. Current CEO David Moffett (ex NRL CEO) is instituting massive reforms such as reducing the number of top fligh pro teams from 9 to 5, just as we did in the NRL by reducing from 22 to 15. Welsh Rugby is already reaping the benefits of this rationalisation. For example, the new Welsh regional teams in Celtic League have beaten Irish provinces in Ireland for the first time in the history of Celtic League competition.

In terms of the financial health of the Union he has been cutting costs e.g. Wales A team, and has put into place measures like a new Welsh Rugby Academy. Most significantly of all, he managed to put into place a new executive board which replaced the board of 239 members! That is a big leap.

Ah, David Moffett, I remember him.

It's opened the door for League and it looks like Richard Lewis is taking advantage of it. RL clubs are springing up left, right and centre.

 

[The Observer]

It's not the case that Moffett's appointment has opened the door for RL or that Lewis is taking it advantage. Although Lewis has given good leadership to RL in the Uk as a whole, former London Broncos and Rugby League Conference CEO Lionel Hurst deserves credit for starting the RLC, Niel Wood should be credited for continuing the good work, the hard working grass roots enthusiasts in Wales have done a lot too. They include a handful of dual code Rugby internationals that have given it a good profile like former Sharkie centre/wing Allan Bateman, Kevin Ellis and John Devereux.

The opportunity has been open for a little while, but now people are taking advantage of it. RL clubs in Wales are offering RU players and clubs an opp to try something new in summer, an enjoyable game and a means to get fit. Good on them for taking advantage of it.

Nevertheless, Union is still the main game in Wales. If anything is challenging Union's status as Wales main sport, it is soccer.

 

[dimitri]

sounds promising for league

 

[Alan Shore]

I reckon we should buy Millennium Stadium off them

Then we could fill it up for the Roo Tour and Challenge Cup matches.

 

[Marcus]

Wales is rugby country. The people there have too many bad memories of league poaching their star players. League will never catch on.

Wales rugby is in bad shape, but still support is very strong. They are getting their house in order and I think they are heading in the right direction.

 

[bayrep]

Wales is rugby country. The people there have too many bad memories of league poaching their star players. League will never catch on.

Wales rugby is in bad shape, but still support is very strong. They are getting their house in order and I think they are heading in the right direction.

Good luck to them, it is very sad to see the Red Dragons in such poor shape to date. One of my fav memories as a kid was watching ABs vs Dragons.

 

[kier]

Wales is a soccer country - the RU internationals are popular, and in south Wales RU is a pouplat sport but in mid/north Wales soccer has ALWAYS been the main sport and in South Wales Swansea and Cardiff soccer clubs have ALWAYS been better supported than and RU club.

The number of soccer players far outstrips those for RU throughout Wales and at schoolboy level the gap is even wider.

 

[Mango]

Tamazoid,
What a poor excuse for a thread. by any credible standard the measures taken by the WRU would be seen as commercially prudent. The fact that the basis for this thread is out of date merely serves to demonstrate your intention to deride the great game of Rugby at any cost. I note your ethics are on a par with most league supporters. Still, when your code is born in the gutter...what else would one expect.