Pwyllgor Cymunedau, Cydraddoldeb a Llywodraeth Leol Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee

Mr Roger Lewis Group CEO Welsh Rugby Union Limited

Bae Caerdydd / Cardiff Bay  Caerdydd / Cardiff CF99 1NA 26 March 2014

Dear Mr Lewis  

Thank you for your recent correspondence in relation to Welsh rugby.

The Committee considered your responses, along with the others it received, at its meeting last week. Whilst the Committee felt it was useful to invite the views of the relevant parties in the first instance, and to publish those views, it has agreed not to undertake any further work in relation to this matter.

You may be aware that we have recently published a statement to this effect; I have attached a copy of the statement to this letter.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for providing such a comprehensive response.       

Yours sincerely

Christine Chapman AC / AM

Cadeirydd / Chair

Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee

Correspondence in relation to Welsh rugby

Earlier this year, following reports of difficulties in relation to the Participation Agreement between the WRU and the four regions, the Committee wroteto the WRU, Regional Rugby Wales and the WRU district secretaries inviting them to submit written statements setting out their respective views about:

- the issues that have instigated the current dispute about the Participation Agreement;

- any action needed in order to ensure that such a situation does not occur again in the future;

- any views or concerns about the governance and funding arrangements for rugby in Wales, and whether any improvements need to be made to ensure the game’s sustainability in the longer term.

We have considered all the responses, which we believe to be comprehensive. While it was useful to seek these views and to make them publicly available, we have come to the conclusion that we are not able to add anything further to the process that is already underway.

While the differences between the parties have been well documented over the past few months, we are conscious that events have moved on since we initially invited views. In particular, it would seem that progress is being made with regard to future participation in European competitions, and we hope that agreement on this can be reached shortly. We further hope that any new agreement will lead to an improved relationship between the WRU and the regions in the future.