WRU takeover secures Cardiff Rugby’s future amidst wider Welsh rugby shake-up

8 months ago

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has acquired Cardiff Rugby, securing the club’s future after it entered administration. The WRU paid approximately £780 thousand pounds and assuming £300 thousand in debt.
This move ensures the continuation of professional rugby at Cardiff Arms Park, preserving around 150 jobs and honoring existing commitments such as season tickets and sponsorships.

Transcript

00:00The Welsh Rugby Union has acquired Cardiff Rugby, securing the club's future after it entered

00:08administration. They paid approximately £780,000 for the club, assuming £300,000 in debt. This

00:17move ensures the continuation of professional rugby at Cardiff Arms Park, preserving around

00:22150 jobs and honouring existing commitments as season tickets and sponsorships.

00:30Following the acquisition, Cardiff Rugby had signed the new professional rugby agreement,

00:34a five-year deal that increases central funding from £4.5 to £6.5 million a season. However,

00:41the Scarletts and Ospreys are yet to sign the agreement, expressing concerns over the

00:46implication of the WIU's ownership of Cardiff. WIU CEO Abbey Tierney emphasised the importance

00:54of Cardiff Rugby to the national rugby landscape, stating the acquisition aligns with the

00:59One Wales strategy aimed at unifying and strengthening the sport across the country.

01:06The WIU plans to treat Cardiff as an independent club and is seeking private investors to ensure

01:12its long-term sustainability. Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt, who took over in August

01:182023, has been instrumental during this transition period. In addition to his role at Cardiff,

01:25Sherratt served the interim head coach role for the Wales national team during the 2025 Six

01:30Nations following Warren Gatlin's departure. Although he led the team through a challenging

01:35period, Sherratt has stated it's not in his best interest to seek the position permanently.

01:42Disappointed I couldn't get some smiles on faces in that changing room. That's probably my regret today,

01:49but I'll be as honest as I can because there's no point in not being as honest as I can. So I'll do

01:56whatever's best for the Welsh game and this group of players.

02:00The WIU's acquisition of Cardiff Rugby marks a significant step in stabilising professional rugby

02:06in Wales with hopes that it will lead to a more unified and competitive future for the sport.

02:12So I'll do it.

02:24So I'll make a lot of advice.

02:26So I'll do it.

02:27So I'll do it.

WRU takeover secures Cardiff Rugby’s future amidst wider Welsh rugby shake-up

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