The Welsh Rugby Union has become embroiled in a fresh sexism scandal after threatening to withdraw its women’s team from next year’s World Cup if players did not sign new contracts.
Less than a year after an independent review highlighted a “toxic” culture within the WRU, the organisation repeatedly refused to meet players’ requests during contract negotiations and threatened them with disciplinary action.
One source told Telegraph Sport the process left many players feeling “emotionally unwell” and that some were even victims of bullying tactics allegedly used by members of the women’s coaching team and senior management.
This included Ioan Cunningham, the team’s head coach, who repeatedly approached players about signing new deals during this year’s Six Nations despite the fact the Women’s Rugby Association (WRA) had been appointed to negotiate on the players’ behalf.
In a widespread investigation, it can now be revealed:
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The WRU refused “almost all of the players’ requests” put forward which included a request for a bespoke, performance-based maternity policy, upgraded salaries, a guaranteed rugby boot allowance and nutrition supplements.
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Nigel Walker, the WRU’s executive director of rugby, told players if they did not sign contracts in the summer they would be withdrawn and that it would also forfeit the squad’s place at the WXV2 tournament in South Africa, and therefore the country’s place at next year’s World Cup in England.
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Players were given a final ultimatum with a three-hour deadline to sign contracts and threatened consequences that included fixture cancellations and training removal.
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Abi Tierney, the WRU’s chief executive, did not want to pay travelling reserves on match days and tried to shut out the WRA from negotiations.
During a messy negotiation process that lasted several months, the players enlisted the help of the WRA – a trade union set up in 2021 to provide a collective voice and support for elite women’s rugby players in the UK – after feeling “uncomfortable” dealing with senior management.
Despite the WRA first making contact with a WRU representative in early February, players were cornered individually by members of the coaching management, who attempted to talk them into signing new deals.
The drawn-out process contributed to a poor run of results for the team on the pitch. Wales finished bottom of this year’s Women’s Six Nations and, despite securing World Cup qualification over Spain last June, only recorded one win at the WXV2 tournament in South Africa.
It is now known the team’s preparation leading up to the competition was disrupted after the WRU escalated contract negotiations weeks before it began.
On August 2, the WRU issued the threat of disciplinary action after players refused to attend a meeting at the National Centre of Excellence about the contracts. The invitation was not extended to WRA representatives.
Walker later warned players on a Zoom call that there would be severe consequences if they did not sign contracts that the union had proposed within the next three hours. This included sending the country’s under-20s team to compete in WXV2 and forfeiting their place at next year’s World Cup. Walker allegedly told players: “We are not bluffing.”
In a follow-up email sent to the squad after the call, the consequence of not signing the contracts was reiterated to players in writing. “If the contracts are not signed by 4pm today (Friday 2/08) they will be withdrawn,” it read. “Planned matches against the Black Ferns, Scotland and Australia will be cancelled and we will forfeit our place in WXV. This will also mean we forfeit our place in RWC 25.”
After the squad refused to sign the contracts, Hannah John, the team manager, told players over WhatsApp that training “would be cancelled until further notice”. This was despite all of the players being contracted until September 30 after their current deals from the 2023-24 season had been extended by two months.
With talks stalled, the WRU then changed tact and tried to discourage the players from using the WRA and offered to pay for different independent advisors.
In an email sent more than a week later by Richard Collier-Keywood, the chair of the WRU board, players were told that Tierney believed the WRA’s involvement had been more disruptive than constructive. “We believe there are better choices with more direct experience and I confirm that we would pay for this advice for you,” wrote Collier-Keywood. This request was rebuffed by players.
The WRU, which posted a turnover of £100 million for the year ending June 2023, announced new deals for 37 players in September worth £24,000 to £30,000 which made the players “one of the best-paid international women’s teams in the world game” despite not meeting almost all of their proposals.
Responding to the allegations, the WRU acknowledged there had been “concerns” among players during the contract negotiation process and that a review was being undertaken.
The body stopped short of issuing an apology, but did not deny the claim about the World Cup withdrawal.
In a statement, Tierney said: “In September this year the Welsh Rugby Union proudly issued 37 new full-time professional contracts to Wales Women players.
“The move, for the first time, included many extended two-year deals and makes Wales Women one of the best paid international women’s teams in the world game.
“The WRU Board were made aware in August by the Players that they had concerns with the contract negotiation process. The WRU welcomed this approach, and the WRU Chair immediately initiated two work streams. One was completion of the negotiations with a core team the second was a Board-led review of the whole contract process.
“It isn’t appropriate to discuss the detail of confidential negotiations, but the WRU will publish the results and recommendations of the review it has undertaken very shortly.”
Addressing the allegation about refusing to pay travelling reserve players and sidelining the WRA, the body said in a statement: “When Abi Tierney got involved in the process she approved the payment of travelling reserves match fees and engaged regularly with the WRA.”
Tierney added: “I value the contribution of the WRA to the contract negotiation process and the WRU and WRA have developed a strong ongoing partnership. Some details of the negotiation process should necessarily remain private in order to enable future discussions to take place in a safe environment.”
Players had requested a detailed maternity policy fit for full-time athletes, which was one of the 36 recommendations put forward in the wake of a BBC Wales investigation which found allegations of sexism and discrimination, which is yet to be implemented. The WRU confirmed to Telegraph Sport that an athlete-specific maternity policy “similar to that employed by other leading rugby nations is being finalised as part of the new contracts that have been put in place.”
Although players’ proposals for a baseline £1,000 match fee were also denied, bonuses are believed to have been agreed for finishing places at major tournaments.
A spokesperson from the WRA said: “We represent some of the Welsh women’s squad as part of our work in the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR). At the beginning of this year, the Wales squad approached the Women’s Rugby Association to represent them in their contract negotiations with the WRU.
“We are proud of the support we continue to give to PWR players, and of our work with the Welsh squad, however it wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss the detail of confidential negotiations. We wish the Wales squad the best of luck in their preparations for the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup next year.”
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