Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) bosses are facing calls to resign after the union reported an £18m loss for the latest financial year. The WRU also warned it is forecasting a similar loss for next year, with chief financial officer Gavin Marshall admitting the organisation "can't go on like this". Soaring operating costs, lower ticket sales and reduced fan spending have been blamed for the losses. The union said the figures prove running four professional clubs in Wales is unsustainable as it looks to cut the number of regions to three from 2028.
Former Wales international Alex Cuthbert has criticised a "lack of leadership" from the WRU, while Swansea council leader Rob Stewart accused the organisation of mismanagement. Stewart called on the chief executive Abi Tierney and the board to go, saying the game in Wales had been completely mismanaged. He pointed to half-empty stadiums, fans staying away and some of the country's best players moving to England, and said the WRU had been changing its plans on a quarterly basis for more than 18 months.
Marshall said the loss, compared with £7.2m the previous year, was hugely disappointing and that the board "would take accountability". Cuthbert warned the union is set to lose another £16m next year and said big decisions must be made within the next couple of months. He also questioned how the WRU had handled plans to reduce the number of regions, arguing that clearer early communication might have built more support.
Meanwhile, Swansea council has defended its £5m redevelopment of St Helen's, which the Ospreys play at for the first time in a Welsh derby against the Dragons this Saturday. Stewart said the council had to decide whether to let the stadium deteriorate or invest in it, describing it as a community venue that should serve as a model for other locations across Wales, despite uncertainty over the Ospreys' long-term future beyond June 2028.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing